Correspondence

EFA e-bulletin for academies: 7 January 2016

Published 7 January 2016

This correspondence was withdrawn on 20 December 2019

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. The EFA e-bulletin has been replaced by ESFA Update.

1. Reminder: auditors of academy trusts and sixth-form colleges to complete a short online form

For audit firms that conduct audits of academy trusts and sixth forms colleges, please complete this short online form by 31 January 2016. Only one form is required for each audit firm.

The form should be completed each year to confirm you are aware of the latest framework, and any other relevant changes and information that will impact upon your work. This information helps us communicate effectively with you.

2. Information: updated pupil premium allocations for 2015 to 2016

We have published updated pupil premium allocations for 2015 to 2016. The pupil premium allocations for looked after children (LAC) have been updated based on the March 2015 children looked-after data return, as set out in paragraph 10 of the conditions of grant.

Pupils who are both free school meals (FSM) Ever 6, and recorded as LAC, attract the higher allocation of £1,900 only, which is paid to the local authority (LA) and managed by the authority’s virtual school head. This means that some schools will have seen a reduction in the number of FSM Ever 6 pupils compared to the allocations made in June 2015.

The January payment to academies for pupil premium will reflect the updated allocations. As funding for LAC pupils is now paid to the local authority, schools should discuss with their LA the use of the LAC funding for the pupils concerned. We would expect LAs to pay the funding to schools if requested.

The Key to Success website will be updated shortly with details of the pupils attracting LAC funding. We will confirm when Key to Success has been updated in this bulletin.

Allocations for post-LAC pupils (those recorded as adopted from care) and service children are not affected by this update.

3. Information: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund (vulnerable student bursaries)

It has come to our attention that some institutions have yet to submit a claim to draw down funds from the Student Bursary Support Service (SBSS).

If you are an education institution that has identified students who meet the eligibility criteria for the vulnerable student bursary you are reminded that vulnerable student funding claim forms should be submitted whenever new students are identified. Eligibility criteria details are available in the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide for 2015 to 2016.

Claims should be submitted via the SBSS online portal. Institutions can submit as many claims as they need during the year. Please do not leave submitting claims until the end of the academic year.

Regular submission of claims supports the EFA in monitoring the number of eligible students and funding requirements. It also ensures that institutions do not need to use their discretionary bursary fund allocations for vulnerable student payments.

4. Action: confirm statutory monitoring and moderation arrangements for primary assessments by 29 January 2016

Academies have a statutory responsibility to ensure provision for the external monitoring of the national curriculum tests and moderation of teacher assessment. As detailed in funding agreements, compliance with the ‘2016 assessments and reporting arrangements’ for both key stage 1 and key stage 2 is required.

Details of your moderation and monitoring arrangements should be submitted to the Standards and Testing Agency by Friday 29 January 2016, using the online form.

For any queries, please email TA.moderation@education.gsi.gov.uk.