What are your plans for May?

As April showers give way to the promise of a brighter future, there are number of areas that you need to be aware of as you make plans over the next couple of months. Business Planner The EFA Business Cycle Wall Planner has been updated and covers the Period from April 2014 to March 2015. Visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/efa-business-cycle. The tasks set for May are: Academies: • Summer school census • Academy trusts must have published their financial statements as at 31 August 2013 on their websites by no later than 31 May EFA: • Issues academies’ accounts direction for academy trusts preparing financial statements at 31 August 2014 • Publishes student support funds’ guides, Q&As and applications packs for Care to Learn and Residential Support Schemes • Publishes draft post-16 funding guidance for post-16 education for 2014 to 2015 academic year • Applications open for round 2 of ACMF 2014 to 2015 for academies that opened after 1 December 2013 • Publishes English and maths GCSE presumption of funding reports, based on institutions' 2013 to 2014 data • Hosts webinar (interactive online seminar) on March accounts return for academy trusts (15 May) • Pays the second and final primary PE and sport grant payment for financial year 2013 to 2014 • Publishes third EFA customer survey Staff Numbers Rise to 1.3 Million The 2013 staff census reports there are 9,000 more teachers compared to 2012, driven by a surge in the birth rate and rising primary school rolls. Overall there are now around 451,000 full time equivalent teachers, 244,000 teaching assistants and 227,000 support staff working in schools and academies. This equates to 1.3 million individuals employed, with 93% of those employed being white females. The latest figures show a rise in the numbers holding a degree, about 96% of all teachers, though teachers do not always hold a degree in the subject they teach; just one in five maths teachers have a maths degree. Within free schools the figures show that 13% of full time equivalent posts are held by teachers without qualified teacher status. The average salary for a full time qualified teacher according to the census is £38,100, slightly higher in secondary than primary and slightly higher in local authority schools than in academies. For senior staff the average salary in academies is £62,300, slightly higher than in local authority schools. With many academies preparing budget forecasts for the next year and beyond, trends in pay and conditions are an important factor as typically around 70% of total costs are on staff. Visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-26973916 Funding for Primary MATs The primary academy chain development grant is available to fund a 2-year chain development programme for new multi-academy trust (MAT) partnerships. A one-off grant of £100,000 will be offered to chains of 3 schools creating a MAT. An extra £10,000 is available (subject to availability) for each additional school joining the MAT, up to a maximum of £150,000. Additional financial support for small primary schools joining the new MAT is also available through the small school supplement. Schools with under 100 pupils can apply for an additional £5,000 and those with between 100 and 210 pupils can apply for £2,000. For further information visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/primary-academy-chain-development-grant-forms In Short Some areas you may wish to consider with the Senior Leadership Team: • The DfE has published new statutory guidance on safeguarding. An important addition is the requirement to look out for and take action where ‘female genital mutilation’ may be a possibility. Multi agency guidelines have been issued by the Department for Health; visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/female-genital-mutilation-multi-agency-practice-guidelines?dm_i=182M,2DZ10,6XJD87,8O655,1 • New proposals for dealing with long term sickness absence came into force on 6 April 2014. Visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26105246 or http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4131 • The new flexible working regime, included in the Children and Families Bill, will be available soon to all employees The right to request flexible working will be extended to all employees with 26 weeks' service, rather than being limited to parents of children aged under seventeen or if disabled, under eighteen or to “carers”. Visit http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1616