EFA e-bulletin for academies: 28 January 2016
Published 29 January 2016
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1. Reminder: August accounts return due 31 January
This is a final reminder that academy trusts must submit their August accounts return by 31 January 2016.
Full guidance on completing and submitting the return, a recorded webinar and a series of short training videos are available.
2. Information: academies funding arrangements for 2016 to 2017
We have published a short video confirming academy funding arrangements for 2016 to 2017, including information on new education services grant rates.
3. Information: post-16 student number statements relating to the 2016 to 2017 allocations
We are in the process of uploading post-16 student number statements for further education (FE) institutions, except Commercial and Charitable Providers (CCPs), to EFA Information Exchange. We expect these files to be available by the end of Friday 29 January.
We will be uploading post-16 student number statements and a toolkit for academies and maintained schools in early February.
All files will be in EFA Information Exchange: ‘Revenue Funding’ folder, under ‘AY 2016-17 (2016/17)’.
Information about how we calculate your post-16 allocation is available on GOV.UK. If you have any queries about the figures or calculations in your student number statement, please contact us via our online enquiry form. We will only accept business cases relating to the data within your statement in March 2016, once you have received and reviewed your final allocation.
If you experience problems accessing EFA Information Exchange, please submit a support request.
4. Information: procurement training for schools
The Department for Education (DfE) and Crown Commercial Service (CCS) have published procurement training for schools. This is a set of introductory level modules for staff with budget or buying accountability or responsibility in all local authority maintained schools, academies and free schools.
The 12 bite-size modules follow a simple procurement cycle and include trainer notes and exercises that you can use to run your own sessions.
They are designed to help school staff understand public procurement legislation and share effective practice that will lead to better school financial health and efficiency.
5. Information: new Microsoft agreement for schools
The Department for Education (DfE) and Crown Commercial Service (CCS) have negotiated an agreement with Microsoft, which will save schools an estimated £30 million.
The deal will mean schools can take advantage of discounts and better licensing terms across a wide range of Microsoft’s academic software.
The new arrangement, which runs until 1 July 2018, is intended as a transition agreement because Microsoft investment in software will focus on more internet-based cloud services over the next couple of years.