EFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges, local authorities and other 16 to 19 providers: 4 December 2014
Published 4 December 2014
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/efa-e-bulletin-4-december-2014-issue-71/efa-e-bulletin-for-schools-colleges-local-authorities-and-other-16-to-19-providers-4-december-2014
1. Information: Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) applications
If you’re planning to submit a Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) application later this month, we recommend you register to use the application website straight away.
Most academies registered on the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund (ACMF) portal will be able to use their ACMF user name and password. Academies that used the ACMF portal for the first time last year will have to register as a new user for their CIF application account.
All new users will need to register to create an account.
We recommend you register straight away to make sure you can complete the online application by the deadline of 19 December.
If you have any technical issues with the CIF online application, please complete the ‘Contact Us’ form on the application website so your query goes straight to the technical team. Please do not email the EFA enquiry service.
Detailed guidance for applicants, including links to our webinar and video Q&A, and the application website are available on GOV.UK.
2. Information: maths and English condition of funding
We’ve now published a factsheet on the maths and English condition of funding. We are asking schools and academies to supply early data.
2.1 Maths and English condition of funding factsheet
We’ve published a comprehensive factsheet on the maths and English condition of funding on GOV.UK.
The factsheet covers all aspects of the condition of funding for all institutions with 16- to 19-year-olds on study programmes. It covers which students need to study, what exemptions apply, and identifies qualifications that meet the condition of funding.
2.2 Maths and English: number of students who are exempt from studying
In January 2015 we will be asking schools and academies to notify us of the number of students who are exempt from studying maths and English qualifications, based on the student numbers returned in the 2014 to 2015 academic year autumn census.
We will be sending out a template for completion along with guidance and the criteria for students to qualify as exempt on 5 January, and asking for the data to be returned within 3 weeks.
2.3 16 to 19 maths and English GCSE status by student report
We would like to remind institutions about the new maths and English status report to quality assure the data used to support the condition of funding on maths and English.
The report shows the status of each individual student to illustrate whether or not they are currently meeting the condition of funding. It is available in the Funding Information System (FIS) and on the Hub once an ILR return has been processed. It can be viewed as a PDF report, or an Excel file enabling you to filter for particular status to ensure your coding in the key fields is correct for every student.
The report provides an early indication on the status of maths and English GCSE provision for each EFA funded student in your return.
3. Information: 14- to 16-year-olds in further education - revised requirements and advice
We have published a revised requirements and advice document about 14- to 16-year-olds in full-time further education on GOV.UK. Headline changes include:
- arrangements for the direct enrolment of high needs students (HNS) aged 14- to 16-years-old
- an update to reflect the new SEN code of practice
- confirmation of college access to School to School data transfer service
- minor updates to the careers guidance section
- minor updates to the school appeals process
4. Information: advice about spiritual, moral, cultural and social (SMSC) development including fundamental British values
The Department for Education has published supplementary advice to help independent schools, academies and free schools understand their obligations under the Education (Independent School Standards) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 to strengthen the requirements on schools in relation to fundamental British values, with effect from 29 September 2014.
The advice should be read alongside the departmental advice published on 30 November 2013.
5. Contacts
All 16 to 19 providers can get in touch with the EFA through the relevant territorial inbox, unless a different email address is specified in an article.
16 to 19 providers - northern territory
Contact form https://form.education...
For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in north west, north east and Yorkshire and the Humber with queries for the Education Funding Agency
16 to 19 providers - central and south west territory
Contact form https://form.education...
For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in south west, west midlands and east midlands with queries for the Education Funding Agency
16 to 19 providers - southern territory
Contact form https://form.education...
For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in south east, east of England and London with queries for the Education Funding Agency
Academies should contact the Academy Enquiries Service:
EFA questions
Contact form https://form.education...
For schools, local authorities, other education institutions and providers, accountants, auditors and other professional advisers with queries for the Education Funding Agency