Guide for newly opened academies, academy trusts and free schools

• From: Education and Skills Funding Agency
• Published: 1 June 2020
• Updated: 1 April 2022, see all updates

Guidance, information and resources for newly opened academies, academy trusts and free schools.

• Welcome from ESFA

  An introduction to this manual and working with ESFA

• ESFA communications

  How to get the latest information from ESFA.

• Set up your ESFA business systems

  How to get access to essential ESFA business systems

• Actions for new academies and academy trusts

  Actions which should be completed within the first months of opening.

• Funding Agreement and Academy Trust Handbook

  These documents provide a framework for implementing effective financial management and control.

• Funding and payments

  An overview of funding and payments, including allocations, payment schedules and pupil premiums.

• Capital funding and estate management

  An overview of capital funding and support for good estate management.

• Finance

  Financial returns for academy trusts.

• Governance

  Governance structures for academy trusts and resources to support trustees and governors.

• Support with managing resources

  Information, tools, and guidance to help academies and trusts achieve the best value from their resources.

• ESFA's role in safeguarding

  Information on safeguarding.

• Complaints and whistleblowing

  Academies complaints procedures and requirements.

• Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs)

  The role of RSCs.

• Working with stakeholder groups

  Information on stakeholder groups.