Marching On!
Posted 1st March 2017
In this week’s blog we remind you what is in the EFA Planner prior to Easter and look at some changes to business rates and pensions that will come into force shortly.
From the EFA Planner
- Action: academies to determine admission arrangements
- Deadline: academies admission appeals timetable by 28 February
- Deadline: academies to submit full determined admission arrangements by 15 March
- Information: EFA issues 16 to 19 funding allocations to EFA-funded institutions for 2017 to 2018 by 31 March 2017
- Information: academy revenue funding allocations for 2017 to 2018 issued by 31 March 2017
- Information: fourth quarter pupil premium payment on 6 April 2017
- Publication: list of institutions registered to deliver 14 to 16 provision in further education in 2016 to 2017
- Publication: academy funding allocation guidance
Business Rates
Business rates, charged on property in England, are due to change in April for the first time in seven years. Overall the government has suggested that state schools will see an overall fall in rates of around 2%, but there is likely to be wide variations with some schools seeing rises of up to 40%. Council-run schools would be particularly badly hit as academies have their costs, including rates, met fully by the EFA. Government Guidance is available - Click here Additional Guidance for Education Sector - click hereProperty Upkeep
A report from the National Audit Office states that repairing all school buildings to a satisfactory standard will cost an estimated £6.7bn. Much of the school estate is more than 40 years old with 60% built before 1976 and the cost of repairs is expected to rise, with common defects including electrics and external walls. For details of the Condition Improvement Fund for Academies and Sixth Form Colleges click here. The report also commented on the opening of new free schools. By 2020, the department expects to have opened 883 free schools in total, but the most significant risk to delivering the free schools target was a lack of available sites. On average, free schools sites cost £4.9m, and the DfE is planning to set up a property company to ensure it secures sites at the best available price.Teachers' Pensions
The Department for Education has advised that from 1 April 2017 the salary bands applicable to member contributions for the Teachers’ Pension Scheme will change in line with an increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). These arrangements apply to all members i.e. both those who remain in final salary arrangement and those in career average arrangement.| Annual Salary Rate for the Eligible Employment from 1 April 2015 – 31 March 2017 | Annual Salary Rate for the Eligible Employment from 1 April 2017 | Member Contribution Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £25,999.99 | Up to £26,259.99 | 7.4% |
| £26,000 to £34,999.99 | £26,260 to £35,349.99 | 8.6% |
| £35,000 to £41,499.99 | £35,350 to £41,914.99 | 9.6% |
| £41,500 to £54,999.99 | £41,915 to £55,549.99 | 10.2% |
| £55,000 to £74,999.99 | £55,550 to £75,749.99 | 11.3% |
| £75,000 and above | £75,750 and above | 11.7% |
