EFA e-bulletin for academies: 26 May 2016
Published 26 May 2016
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1. Reminder: March accounts return due 31 May 2016
This is a final reminder that the deadline for submitting the March accounts return is 31 May 2016.
EFA requires academy trusts to submit a March 2016 accounts return by 31 May 2016 if:
- they did not prepare audited financial statements as at 31 August 2015 and had open academies at 31 March 2016; or
- they did prepare audited financial statements as at 31 August 2015 and they opened new academies between then and 31 March 2016
The return is available together with a guide to completing and submitting the return. There’s also a series of training videos and a recording of a question and answer webinar.
2. Information: Academies Accounts Direction 2015 to 2016
EFA published the Academies Accounts Direction 2015 to 2016 on 23 May 2016. This is the reference pack for you and your auditors to use when preparing and auditing your trust’s annual reports and financial statements.
You will need to submit your audited financial statements and management letter for the accounting period ending 31 August 2016 to EFA by 31 December 2016.
3. Information: schools financial health case studies
We have published the first set of schools financial health case studies showing examples of effective financial management in schools.
You can read the following case studies covering:
- three-year budget plan helps schools to address budget deficit
- school reaps financial benefits from efficient timetabling
- creating a leaner and more effective senior leadership team
- academy become more efficient by tackling staff absence rates
- finding efficiencies in support staff spending
- school business manager peer support improves financial health
We will produce new case studies on a regular basis that support our work on schools financial health and efficiency.
4. Information: school capacity collection 2016
The school capacity collection (SCAP) is an annual survey of school capacity; pupil forecasts and capital spend governed by regulations. It is run by EFA and is used to inform capital allocations to local authorities.
Academies, free schools and university technical colleges (UTCs) need to provide or confirm their total capacity and capacity by year group figures to their local authority. Capacity by year group is often the same as the published admission number (PAN) for each year group. This is the number of places to which you planned to admit pupils when that year’s cohort joined the school.
If you have carried out a capital project to add extra places to your capacity using basic need funding provided by your local authority, you will need to work with your local authority to provide cost information for that project.
The regulations that govern SCAP need local authorities to tell DfE about the number of available school places in all state-funded schools in their areas, as well as the projects being carried out in those schools to add places funded through basic need allocations.
It is important that this data is refreshed each year and is accurate. If you have made changes to your building or intake that result in a change to your capacity, you can find guidance on what you need to do on GOV.UK.
The deadline for the survey is the end of July 2016. Your LA will be in touch before then if they need to confirm the figures for your school.
5. Information: Portakabin fraud alert
We have been advised by Portakabin Ltd that some of their customers may have received a fraudulent letter about a change to their bank account details.
The letter is attempting fraud and, if you have received one, you should ignore any instructions.
If you have any concerns, please contact Portakabin.
6. Information: energy efficiency webinar
As part of the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) collaborative Energy for Schools initiative with DfE, we’re hosting a series of energy efficiency webinars for schools. The webinar will provide more information on the initiative, how to access our agreements, and the benefits that we can provide to your school.
Please register your interest for the next webinar session taking place on Tuesday 14 June 2016 from 12:30 to 13:00.