EFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges and other 16 to 19 providers: 9 October 2014
Published 13 October 2014
© Crown copyright 2014
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/efa-e-bulletin-9-october-2014-issue-64/efa-e-bulletin-for-schools-colleges-and-other-16-to-19-providers-9-october-2014
1. Reminder: high needs student place number exceptional cases due by 17 October
The 2015 to 2016 high needs student place number exceptional case process closes on 17 October. Any cases received after this date will not be considered.
Unlike last year there will not be a formal process for academies and FE institutions to make exceptional cases directly to the EFA. Local authorities should submit cases on their behalf. Information relating to this process including how to submit an exceptional case can be found on GOV.UK.
2. Reminder: final data collection for 2013 to 2014 funding year: opens 10 October
The Individualised Learner Record (ILR) R14 data return period opens on Friday 10 October and will close at 6pm on Friday 24 October. This is the final data return for this funding year. You will not be able to submit further data for the 2013 to 2014 funding year once the collection closes. If you are due to make a return, you must submit the same data to the data collections facility in the Hub and to the online data collection (OLDC) system. Please submit your return early in the collection to allow enough time to fully cleanse your data using the validation reports generated by the system.
EFA will use the data you provide to the Hub as the basis on which we generate final reconciliation statements for the 2013 to 2014 funding year and allocations funding factors for the 2015 to 2016 funding year.
For further information, please refer to the payments and data page on GOV.UK.
3. Reminder: recording FE free meals in the ILR
This is the first year of free meals in further education. Institutions are reminded to complete, where appropriate, for 16 to 18-year-olds, the relevant field in the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) in time for their R04 return.
Code FME2 should be recorded if the learner is eligible for and has taken up free meals at any point within the teaching year.
4. Information: EFA high needs students market entry
There is a four stage process for institutions applying to receive an EFA education and training contract to deliver education and training for high needs students in academic year 2015 to 2016.
All stages must be successfully completed by 31 January 2015 for consideration of EFA funding for academic year 2015 to 2016.
EFA will only consider institutions named in their home local authority exceptional case submission. These must be returned to EFA by 17 October 2014. Institutions will also need to have at least ten student places identified by one or more LA for 2015 to 2016.
Please note successful completion of the EFA market entry process does not entitle the institution to receive a local authority funding agreement. Institutions should contact the relevant local authority to establish their individual process/es.
Further information and the application form is available on GOV.UK.
5. Information: 2014 to 2015 funding allocations published
EFA has published the schools block and 16 to 19 funding allocations for 2014 to 2015.
The schools block funding allocations cover each individual mainstream maintained school (for financial year 2014 to 2015) and academy (for academic year 2014 to 2015) under local authorities’ funding formulae for the funding year 2014 to 2015.
The post-16 allocations detail the allocations for institutions funded by the EFA for 16 to 19 education.
EFA has published the data sets in the interest of transparency and to give a more complete picture of education funding by showing how EFA has allocated £6.2 billion (post-16) and £30.9 billion (schools block funding) of public funds.
6. Information: Cracking the code: how schools can improve social mobility – new report published
A new report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission calls on schools to do more to improve exam results for poorer children.