Correspondence

ESFA Update academies: 18 May 2022

Published 18 May 2022

This correspondence was withdrawn on 27 December 2023

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. Read the latest editions of ESFA Update for the latest news and information.

Applies to England

1. Action: apply for a grant to train a senior mental health lead

This financial year, a further two-thirds of all eligible institutions in England will have the opportunity to benefit from quality assured senior mental health lead training, backed by an additional £7 million in training grants.

We have published guidance on how to access and apply for your grant.

For more information about the grant, read the senior mental health training lead guidance.

2. Reminder: the coronavirus (COVID-19) 16 to 19 tuition fund 2022 to 2023 claim form

The coronavirus (COVID-19) 16 to 19 tuition fund 2022 to 2023 form is live.

The deadline for your submission is 11.59pm on Friday 27 May 2022.

We’ve published guidance to help you access and complete the form.

You can read more in the coronavirus (COVID-19) 16 to 19 tuition fund guidance 2022 to 2023.

3. Reminder: the coronavirus (COVID-19) workforce fund claim form is open

Eligible schools and colleges can now submit a claim for the cost of absences experienced between Monday 22 November 2021 and Friday 8 April 2022.

We have published guidance on how to complete the claim form.

The deadline for submitting a claim is 11.59pm on Tuesday 24 May 2022.

Further information on the COVID-19 workforce fund is available in our guidance for schools and colleges.

4. Information: cybersecurity schools audit 2022

The National Cyber Security Centre and the London Grid for Learning have launched the cybersecurity schools audit 2022 to help assess the risk to schools in the light of increasing numbers of cyber-attacks and the rapid expansion of school IT networks to cope with the demand for remote learning while responding to COVID-19.

This audit builds on the 2019 cybersecurity schools audit, which examined the challenges that schools face and the strength of their defences against those challenges.

Better data will help DfE to target resources better to helps schools combat the growing threat of cyber-attacks. Please help us by taking part in the survey here before Tuesday 31 May 2022.

5. Information: Condition Improvement Fund 2022 to 2023 outcome

The Department for Education has published the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) 2022 to 2023 outcome.

This will provide funding of £498 million for 1,405 projects at 1,129 academies, sixth-form colleges, and voluntary aided schools.

We have contacted all applicants to inform them of the outcome of their application. Further information, setting out next steps for applicants has been provided.

6. Information: join these webinars on approved frameworks and see how you could save money for your school

The Department for Education (DfE) is hosting webinars on how using our approved frameworks could help your school get value for money.

If you are responsible for buying goods and services for your schools, check out the range of informative webinars that could help you save time and money.

All sessions are free, use these Eventbrite links to join the Schools Commercial Team and take the opportunity to ask providers the questions you may have:

• YPO internal fit-out – 24 May

• CCS print marketplace – 24 May

Follow our ‘Buying for Schools’ LinkedIn page to learn more about how we can support your school to buy goods and services.

7. Information: removal of role in Manage your education and skills funding service

The provider support user role in Manage your education and skills funding is redundant and we will remove this shortly. If you only have this role, you will no longer be able to log in. There are no changes to any other roles.

If you have any questions, please contact the Help Centre .