EFA e-bulletin for academies: 25 February 2016
Published 25 February 2016
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/efa-e-bulletin-25-february-2016-issue-119/efa-e-bulletin-for-academies-25-february-2016
1. Action: national non domestic rates (NNDR) claims
If you haven’t yet claimed for national non domestic rates (NNDR) for the 2014 to 2015 financial year, you should complete the online claims form by 31 March 2016. EFA will make payments in full, within 2 months of your claim.
The form will be refreshed for claims for financial year 2016 to 2017 on 1 April 2016. It will still be available for claims for 2015 to 2016.
If you need to make additional claims for buildings that have been revalued before financial year 2015 to 2016, you should contact us using our enquiry form. Please attach affected invoices relating to the revaluations.
2. Information: year 7 catch-up premium grant for 2015 to 2016
EFA has published funding allocations and conditions of grant for the year 7 catch-up premium for the 2015 to 2016 financial year.
We will pay academies their grant allocation on 1 March 2016.
3. Information: post-16 final allocation statements relating to the 2016 to 2017 allocations
EFA is in the process of uploading post-16 final allocation statements for further education institutions, academies and maintained schools to EFA Information Exchange. We expect that for most institutions these statements will be available by the end of February 2016.
All files will be located in EFA Information Exchange. You can find these in Document Exchange in the ‘Revenue Funding’ folder, under ‘AY 2016-17 (2016/17)’.
Student support allocations (including the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, free meals in further education and residential bursaries) will not be part of the initial allocations statements due out in February.
We expect to be able to confirm the student support allocations during March and the ‘allocation statements’ will be re-issued at that point. Institutions will be notified of the re-issue via the e-bulletin.
Further information about the final allocation statements and the business case process, for data errors, is available on GOV.UK under ‘Final Allocation Statements 2016/17’.
If you experience problems accessing EFA Information Exchange, please submit a support request.
4. Reminder: academies admissions arrangements
Academies must have determined their admissions arrangements for entry in September 2017 by 28 February 2016. They must publish them on their website and have sent a copy to their local authority by 15 March 2016.
Academies must also publish their timetables for organising and hearing admission appeals on their websites by 28 February 2016.
Please follow the statutory requirements in both the School Admissions Code and the School Admission Appeals Code when determining admissions arrangements and organising admission appeals.
5. Information: primary school teacher assessment deadline changed
Schools Minister Nick Gibb announced on Friday 19 February 2016 that the deadline for submitting primary school teacher assessments at key stage 1 and 2 has been moved to 30 June 2016.
Following constructive dialogue with National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), the date has been moved to be in line with last year. The change, for this year only, has been made in recognition of the unique circumstances for teachers working with a new framework to new standards.
6. Information: public sector apprenticeships targets
The Department for Education is seeking views on a proposed list of public bodies to be set public sector apprenticeship targets.
The list, published as Annex 2, contains organisations based on their headcount size and includes schools and colleges including academy trusts.
The consultation closes on 4 March 2016.
7. Reminder: asbestos in schools - data collection closing date 29 February 2016
Headteachers are reminded that the closing date for completing the online form to collect data on the management of asbestos in schools is 29 February 2016.
Once headteachers have completed the short survey, they will receive immediate feedback and advice based on their responses. The survey is an excellent opportunity for schools to evaluate their approach to asbestos management.