Correspondence

ESFA Update academies: 15 May 2019

Published 15 May 2019

This correspondence was withdrawn on 21 December 2020

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. Find the latest information from ESFA in the latest ESFA Update.

Applies to England

1. Information: new academies chart of accounts

Developed with the support of representatives from academy trusts and finance software suppliers, the Department for Education has introduced an academies chart of accounts.

The chart of accounts is a new standard for financial data to underpin the academies accounts return and budget forecast returns.

Whilst adopting the new chart of accounts is not mandatory, academy trusts that choose to adopt the standard will benefit from potential automated data transfer from their finance system to ESFA for financial returns relating to the 2019 to 2020 financial year.

We are encouraging trusts to work with their financial software suppliers to adopt the chart of accounts in September 2019.

The chart of accounts is part of the department’s academies better financial reporting programme.

2. Final reminder: academies budget forecast return (BFRO)

Thank you to all the trusts who have already submitted their BFRO.

For those who are still working on it, you have less than a week to complete it as the deadline is the 21 May 2019.

As you’re in the final week before the deadline, we recommend that you log into the BFRO online form and start your return as soon as possible.

We would like to remind trusts that the BFRO is in scope of the ESFA’s policy on publishing the names of academy trusts who are late, or do not submit, 2 or more financial returns in each academic year.

We strongly advise all users to allow enough time to complete and submit their BFRO by the deadline of 21 May 2019.

3. Reminder: successful condition improvement fund (CIF) 2019 to 2020 applicants must complete returns by Friday 17 May 2019

Before any payment is made on successful CIF 2019 to 2020 projects, applicants must complete the following actions by Friday 17 May 2019:

• submit outstanding project monitoring or completion returns for previous CIF projects
• read and accept the terms of conditions of funding
• submit a project monitoring form for your new project(s) to confirm and/or update your project delivery milestones.

We will not release any project funds until these actions are complete.

4. Information: T Level transition framework phased implementation delivery support

We will take a phased approach to implementation of the T Level transition framework once the first T Levels are introduced in 2020. The first phases of implementation will be focused on early T Level providers who have a T Level programme onto which their students can progress.

Following a procurement exercise we have appointed the Association of Colleges (AoC) to run our T Level transition framework support programme. Working with their partners, The Challenge Network (TCN) they will support volunteer T Level providers who get involved in phased implementation of the T Level transition framework, running up to first delivery in 2020 and 2021. They will:

• support advisory panels to contribute to thinking on the content of the transition framework
• provide support for participating providers to develop, package and deliver their local transition programme
• encourage and facilitate these providers to explore different approaches to implementing certain elements of the transition programme

We will provide further information on development of the T Level transition framework in due course.

5. Information: Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) Professional Standards

The Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) has produced Headteachers and Governance Guidance for their Professional Standards.

The guidance helps you to use the ISBL Professional Standards to recruit and train your school business professional. This guidance is for all school leaders and employers, it may also help to identify skills within your board of governors or trustees.

6. Information: Green for Grenfell, 14 to 28 June 2019

Friday 14 June 2019 will mark two years since the Grenfell tragedy. Between 14 and 28 June, schools and community groups are invited to mark the anniversary, and celebrate community more generally, by wearing green and helping with a local community project. To join in, students can:

• wear something green to school
• help with a school project or local cause
• use the hashtag #Green4GrenfellDay.

You can find more information and downloadable information packs on the Grenfell United website.

7. Your feedback: consultation on local government pension scheme - changes to the local valuation cycle and management of employer risk

On 8 May 2019, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government launched a consultation setting out policy proposals to amend the rules of the local government pension scheme (LGPS) in England and Wales.

Proposals in the consultation, around the valuation cycle and exit payments, may be of interest to academy trusts.

You can submit your views by email to LGPensions@communities.gov.uk. The consultation closes on Wednesday 31 July 2019.

8. Your feedback: help us improve the information we give on payment reports and admittance advice

We are looking for volunteers to inform our on-going research into the payment reports and remittance advice that ESFA publishes for schools, colleges and other providers.

If you are interested in taking part in any of the pre-release trials for upcoming releases, please email our User Researcher.