Correspondence

EFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges, local authorities and other 16 to 19 providers: 24 September 2015

Published 24 September 2015

This correspondence was withdrawn on 13 December 2019

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. The EFA e-bulletin has been replaced by ESFA Update.

1. Information: large programmes data reports for institutions

Institutions who have students on large programmes that will qualify for the large programme uplift in 2016 to 2017 can now download reports (based on 2013 to 2014 academic year attainment) explaining how we are applying their uplift. The reports are available from the document exchange in the EFA Information Exchange - [Other Submissions>AY 2015-16 folder].

If you think the report is inaccurate for at least 5 students, you should submit a business case by 23 October 2015. The report includes information about how to do this. This business case will form part of the 2016 to 2017 academic year allocation process.

If you have difficulty in accessing the Information Exchange, guidance is available on GOV.UK.

2. Information: maths and English condition of funding

In light of in year data showing that 97% of 16 to 19 year olds without GCSE A* to C English and/or maths attending an FE institution continued their study of these subjects, ministers have decided to not apply the maths and English funding condition in full.

For the 2014 to 2015 academic year only, funding reductions (which will apply to the 2016 to 2017 allocations) will only apply to institutions where more than 5% of students (by value) without A* to C GCSE in English and/or maths did not enrol on an approved qualification in these subjects. Funding reductions for these institutions will be applied at half the national funding rate, rather than 100% as originally planned.

Ministers also require all institutions that did not achieve full compliance in the 2014 to 2015 academic year to have plans in place to achieve full compliance in 2015 to 2016. Institutions should develop plans in a format and approach that best meet their needs. Institutions are also asked to complete an online survey confirming they have a plan in place.

Further details on how the funding adjustments will be applied, and instructions on completing the survey are included in the revised maths and English guidance on GOV.UK.

3. Information: Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) 2016 to 2017

We have updated the Condition Improvement Fund page on GOV.UK with information about how to prepare for 2016 to 2017 applications and a timeline of activities.

4. Information: grant funding agreements for new special post-16 institutions

We’ve published a new due diligence guide explaining the process that may lead to a grant funding agreement with the Education Funding Agency for new special post-16 institutions.

This guidance replaces the process previously referred to as ‘High Needs Students Market Entry’.

5. Action: important changes to the administration of the Residential Support Scheme

In the 2015 to 2016 academic year, the Residential Support Scheme (RSS) delivery model changed. Institutions must verify with the EFA whether the substantial qualification each student requesting RSS support is studying, as part of their study programme, is available more locally to their home.

Institutions are not permitted to make any RSS payments to students who have not been confirmed as eligible by the EFA.

If your institution has students requesting RSS support, you should use the form you have been sent by the EFA to seek verification. If you have not returned this to the EFA already, then please do so urgently. Further information about the RSS scheme is available on GOV.UK.

6. Action: high needs funding arrangements 2016 to 2017

We have published a suite of documents outlining arrangements for high needs funding in 2016 to 2017. This includes the operational guide, which provides a summary of critical dates and deadlines, and what you need to do for 2016 to 2017.

7. Information: local authority planned expenditure for 2015 to 2016

We have published the local authority planned expenditure tables, explanatory note and additional information for 2015 to 2016.

Local authorities can use the information (known as Section 251 budget statements) to compare planned expenditure against national averages and statistical neighbours.

We also explain the pupil numbers counts used in the benchmarking tables and why there may be variations in the year-on-year comparisons and between local authorities.

8. Action: local authority disapplication approval requests

In August we told local authorities that the process for disapplication approval requests was open. This is where a local authority can apply to the Secretary of State for Education for exemption from elements of the School and Early Years Finance (England) Regulations.

The process allows local authorities to carry forward some previous approvals for disapplication if the circumstances have not changed. For example:

• approval for exceptional premises factors eg rents, joint use agreements, farm schools etc
• approval to use an exceptional sparsity factor for very small sparse schools or to vary the road distances for sparse schools
• approval to vary pupil numbers for individual schools where there are ongoing effects into 2016 to 2017

All other disapplication requests where circumstances have changed (eg MFG exclusions), must be submitted using the schools finance disapplication request form as they are no longer valid.