Correspondence

EFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges, local authorities and other 16 to 19 providers: 25 February 2016

Published 25 February 2016

This correspondence was withdrawn on 20 December 2019

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. The EFA e-bulletin has been replaced by ESFA Update.

1. Information: post-16 final allocation statements relating to the 2016 to 2017 allocations

EFA are 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 allocation 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 the EFA Information Exchange, please submit a support request.

2. Information: advice and application form for sixth-form colleges wishing to become 16 to 19 academies

Advice and an application form for sixth-form colleges (SFCs) wishing to become 16 to 19 academies as part of the area review of post-16 education and training process, was published on 19 February 2016 on GOV.UK.

The publication sets out the criteria and process for making an application. It also contains practical and operational information which sixth-form colleges need in order to judge whether becoming a 16 to 19 academy is the right option in their individual circumstances.

Sixth-form colleges with queries about becoming an academy should email the Joint Area Review Delivery Unit.

3. 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 local authorities their grant allocation on 29 February 2016.

4. Information: primary school teacher assessment deadline changed

Schools Minister Nick Gibb announced on Friday that the deadline for submitting primary school teacher assessments at key stage 1 and 2 has been moved back to 30 June 2016.

Following constructive dialogue with National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), the date has been moved back 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.

5. Information: free school presumption guidance for local authorities

The Department for Education (DfE) has updated its free school presumption guidance. Local authorities’ statutory duties have not changed, but as part of our work to align the 2 routes to opening a free school, we have added the following annexes:

• Annex A – a model specification template for local authorities seeking proposals to establish a new school
• Annex B – a model application form for proposers applying to establish new ‘presumption’ schools
• Annex C – model criteria for local authorities and proposers seeking to establish new ‘presumption’ schools

We have also added recommended scoring criteria (paragraph 35) and recommended changes to the assessment process (paragraphs 14, 15, 27, 29, 30, 31).

Information should now be sent to freeschool.presumption@education.gov.uk

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.