Guidance

EFA e-bulletin for academies: 4 September 2014

Published 4 September 2014

This guidance was withdrawn on

This is an old edition of the EFA e-bulletin, so has been archived. Please view our most recent e-bulletins and web pages for up-to-date information.

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/efa-e-bulletin-4-september-2014-issue-59/efa-e-bulletin-for-academies-4-september-2014

1. Action: publishing curriculum information

Academies are asked to publish detailed information on their website about the school curriculum.

This mirrors the requirements of Regulation 10 and Schedule 4 of the school information regulations for all local authority maintained schools to publish detailed information about the school curriculum on their website

Since academies were first introduced, funding agreements have usually required academies to publish details about their curriculum. Academies were originally asked to provide this information in the published school prospectus.

The latest funding agreements require academies to publish information on their websites in relation to:

  • the content of the curriculum; its approach to the curriculum

  • the names of any phonics or reading schemes in operation for Key Stage 1 (where applicable)

  • the GCSE options and other Key Stage 4 qualifications, or other future qualifications specified by the Secretary of State, offered by the academy (where applicable)

  • how parents (including parents of prospective pupils) can obtain more information about the academy’s curriculum

This information is important for parents so that they know precisely what is taught and when, enabling them to support their children in their studies. It is also important information for parents when choosing new schools.

Education Funding Agency (EFA) urges all academies to publish curriculum information on their websites whether or not it is specified in their particular funding agreement as a matter of good practice.

2. Information: PE and sports grant 2014 to 2015

Details of the PE and sports grant for the 2014 to 2015 academic year are currently being finalised. EFA will let you know through the e-bulletin when information is available.

3. Information: insurance top-up for the 2014 to 2015 academic year

Insurance top-up claim forms for the 2014 to 2015 academic year will be made available over the next few weeks and we’ll keep you updated through the e-bulletin.

This will apply to insurance policies that are continuing in the 2014 to 2015 academic year and are eligible for additional funding above the £25 per pupil included within the General Annual Grant.

4. Information: pupil premium payment

The next pupil premium payment is due to be paid to academies on 6 October 2014.

Further information is available on per pupil funding amounts, payment schedules and allocation information for new openers.

5. Information: universal infant free school meals payments

Newly opening academies and free schools will receive the first payment of their 2014 to 2015 academic year allocation in early September.

The first payment provides funding for the first 2 terms of the academic year (which represents the remainder of the 2014 to 2015 financial year). Existing academies and free schools have already received their first payment in early July.

6. Information: Charities SORP 2015 – guide for academies

EFA has published a brief guide to the Charities Statement Of Recommended Practice 2015 (SORP 2015. The new SORP is effective for accounting periods starting on or after 1 January 2015. SORP 2015 should not require major changes to academy trust financial reporting, but all academy trusts and auditors should consider the actions set out in the guide.

7. Information: EFA e-bulletin goes weekly

The EFA e-bulletin will now be weekly during school term time. We’re making this change to allow us to give you information, updates and alerts more quickly.

The e-bulletin will come out on Thursdays and we will number the editions to help you see if you have missed anything.

8. Information: updated EFA business cycle

EFA has published the updated EFA business cycle for September 2014 to August 2015, which sets out important information to help institutions plan ahead.

This includes information about when we require institutions to provide information to us, and when we plan to make announcements or provide information to institutions.

You can view and print the business cycle as a wall planner, with versions for academies and free schools, local authorities, schools, commercial and charitable providers, further education colleges and sixth-form colleges.

9. Information: Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) now in post

All 8 Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) are in post and key decisions about academies and free schools are now being taken at the regional level. This shifts operational decision-making from DfE ministers and officials, and continues the transition to a self-regulating system.

Each RSC is supported and challenged by a headteacher board made up of at least 6 academy headteachers and experienced professional leaders.

Academy trusts requiring RSC decisions should continue to use the EFA enquiry service as the first point of contact.

EFA questions

For schools, local authorities, other education institutions and providers, accountants, auditors and other professional advisers with queries for the Education Funding Agency

10. Information: school level application and offer data

In June, the Department for Education published parental school preference data for secondary and primary school applications at local authority level.

As the data was collected from LAs for all pupils, the department can also publish school-level data, which will be released in October. This will contain school information and figures on the number of offers made by preference level and the number of times a school has been requested. There will be no ranking or Published Admission Number (PAN) entry year figures, but parents and others will be able to look up specific primary and secondary schools for information.

11. Information: funding scheme for electricity efficiency projects - applications open

The Department of Energy and Climate Change is now inviting formal applications to the electricity demand reduction (EDR) pilot scheme. The scheme will help support projects that deliver lasting reductions in electricity demand – for example, through the installation of a more efficient lighting system or electric pump.

Expressions of interest should be submitted by 30 September and applications by 31 October 2014.

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