Correspondence

EFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges, local authorities and other 16 to 19 providers: 3 September 2015

Published 3 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This correspondence was withdrawn on 13 December 2019

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. The EFA e-bulletin has been replaced by ESFA Update.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

Together with Skills Funding Agency (SFA), we have published a revised Joint Audit Code of Practice.

JACOP sets out a common standard for the provision of assurance in relation to funding of post-16 providers.

There are some important changes that we have summarised within the introduction to JACOP. We encourage post-16 providers and their auditors to familiarise themselves with these changes.

2. Information: Financial assurance on local authority-maintained institutions with sixth-form funding

We have published a guide for local authorities on gaining assurance over the funding provided for local authority-maintained institutions with sixth forms in the 2014 to 2015 academic year.

It is not mandatory for local authorities to follow the guide; local authority chief financial officers must determine whether and how any work should be undertaken to enable them to make their grant returns to the EFA.

3. Reminder: students with GCSE maths and/or English at grade D

Any student who has a grade D GCSE in either maths or English must be enrolled on GCSE or an approved IGCSE qualification from 1 August 2015 onwards. Students with a grade D will not qualify for funding if they are enrolled on stepping stone qualifications.

This applies to all full time students (those on a study programme of at least 540 planned hours if age 16 to 17 or at least 450 hours if age 18). Part time students can continue to enrol on stepping stone qualifications.

Individualised Learner Record (ILR) users can run Funding Information System (FIS) reports to check their students are compliant with this requirement. Further information is available on GOV.UK.

School census users can use the new interactive tool to help understand how their school census data is used.

4. Information: Helping you make accurate post-16 census returns

Following feedback from institutions, we have created a new easy-to-use post-16 census tool. The tool is designed to help you return accurate post-16 school census data. Your institution could be underfunded if you do not return accurate census data.

The tool helps you understand how your data is used to calculate your post-16 funding, as well as helping you understand common errors and how they impact on the funding we calculate. It will be particularly useful to business managers and those staff responsible for preparing and submitting the school census.

Please ensure macros are enabled when using the tool, if you have any feedback or questions; please get in touch via our enquiry form.

5. Information: Secretary of State approved list of independent special schools in England and Wales, and special post-16 institutions

We have published the latest Secretary of State approved list of independent special schools in England and Wales, and special post-16 institutions. The application process is now annual and the next application window will open on 6 May 2016. We will publish guidance and supporting information before the window opens. Further information will be communicated in a future EFA bulletin.

From September 2015 newly established special post-16 institutions or newly registered independent special schools can submit an application as an ‘exception’ outside of the section 41 application process timeframe. If you have any enquiries about this, please email us.

6. Reminder: providing information about planned study programmes to the national post-16 courses database

The Department for Education expects all post-16 education and training providers funded by EFA to supply information by the end of September 2015 about the courses they plan to offer to 16 to 19 year olds in 2016 to 2017. They will be contacting those providers who have not submitted course information later in September to see if they need any additional support.

Post-16 providers can now submit course information in one of 3 ways:

1. EFA-funded providers who have DfE Secure Access accounts can access the database by selecting the ‘post-16 portal’ option.

2. Skills Funding Agency (SFA) or EFA-funded providers who don’t have a Secure Access account can submit course information direct to the National Careers Service Course Directory provider portal.

3. Providers can nominate a third party organisation to input course data on their behalf. More information can be found in the help guide.

7. Information for local authorities: schemes for financing schools

Following a request for views earlier this year, we have updated the schemes for financing schools statutory guidance. The guidance now includes two directed revisions; a requirement for maintained schools to publish a register of governors’ interests, and clarification in respect of schools’ ability to borrow.

8. Information: Sixth Form College Commissioner: recruitment of assessment adviser outcome

We have appointed John Boyle and Mike Southworth to support Peter Mucklow in his role as Sixth Form College Commissioner on intervention and area based reviews.

John Boyle is the Chair of Governors for Blackpool Sixth Form College and a National Leader of Governance under the National College for Teaching and Leadership and the Education and Training Foundation/Association of Colleges schemes. Mike Southworth was the Principal and Chief Executive of Priestley College from 2002 until 2014.

There will be a further recruitment opportunity through open advert in the autumn term.

9. Information: Apprenticeships levy consultation

A consultation about the government’s proposal to introduce an apprenticeship levy to enable employers to choose and pay for the apprenticeship training has been launched.