ESFA Update academies: 19 February 2020
Published 19 February 2020
Applies to England
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1. Information: view my financial insights tool for academy trusts
As part of the better financial reporting programme, we have launched the first version of the view my financial insights tool for academy trusts. The tool uses data submitted by trusts in their 2018 to 2019 accounts return.
The aim of the new tool is to show how an academy’s financial performance compares with statistically similar schools across nine different cost categories. The tool then provides links to advice, guidance and frameworks that the department offers as part of our commitment to find ways to support trusts in managing their finances.
The tool is available through the View your education data portal, which can be accessed by anyone in the trust with an IDAMS account (the account that allows access to the accounts return online form).
Trusts can also access their pre-populated school resource management self-assessment tool from within the portal.
We would strongly recommend you watch our short video introducing the tool (see below), and use our introductory ‘five ways to use the view my financial insights tool’ guidance. Additional resources are available in the form of a user guide and specific page guidance on each dashboard within the tool.
View my financial insights: an introduction
2. Reminder: the deadline to express an interest to deliver T Levels in 2022 to 2023 academic year is Friday 28 February 2020
We would like to remind providers that the deadline to express an interest to deliver T Levels in 2022 to 2023 academic year is 12 midnight on Friday 28 February 2020.
Please ensure you are registered with DfE sign-in and have the access approved by your organisations approver ahead of returning the form.
3. Information: update on the review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below in England – the process for removal of funding for qualifications with low and no enrolments
In the first stage consultation of the review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below, which closed in June 2019, the Department for Education (DfE) outlined its intention to make early progress in removing funding approvals for qualifications with low and no enrolments. This will help to streamline and stabilise the publicly funded offer in advance of further reform.
On Thursday 13 February 2020, we set out how we will be taking forward the process to confirm which qualifications with low and no publicly funded enrolments will have public funding approval removed from August 2021. The qualifications in scope of this process were detailed in a list, also published on 13 February.
Awarding organisations must tell DfE if they believe a qualification should retain approval for public funding by Friday 27 March 2020.
We know that in some cases there will be clear reasons why a qualification might have low demand, and we have designed the process to consider this. We will assess the evidence provided by awarding organisations against specific criteria including, for example, that removing funding for a qualification would have a significant adverse impact on particular student groups, occupations or geographical areas.
If you are concerned about a qualification on the list, you should contact your awarding organisation.
Further information and documentation can be found on GOV.UK.