AIMHIGHER FAQs

These FAQs are intended to provide general information and guidance. They do not constitute legal advice and are not an authoritative treatment of the law. Professional advice should be sought before acting on any of the material contained in these FAQs. Every care has been taken to ensure the factual accuracy of the answers, however, no liability is accepted arising from reliance upon the information contained in these pages.

Q1: What action do partnerships need to take with local authority finance Departments?

Q2: What happens if partnerships do not communicate properly with local authority finance Departments?

Q3: The amount for Aimhigher Associates sent in December was different to the amount expected. Why?

Q4: What information do Academies get about their allocations?

Q5: What should we do when a school becomes an Academy?

Q6: How can I find out how best to work with my local media?

Q1: What action do partnerships need to take with local authority finance Departments?

A: It is essential that local authority finance Departments are aware in advance of what funds they are likely to receive, and what they are to do with those funds. That means that partnerships must have strong communication channels with LA finance Departments.

For each payment point (April, August and December) local authorities should be told by the partnership,

a) the amount they can expect to receive for the main Aimhigher programme

b) the amount they can expect to receive for Aimhigher Associates

c) which schools are to receive funds, and the amounts in each case; and

d) whether any funds are to be held back by the local authority, what any such funds are for, and who is responsible for them.

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Q2: What happens if partnerships do not communicate properly with local authority finance Departments?

A: Failure to communicate properly sometimes means that local authorities are left in the dark and confused. It leads to unnecessary work for the local authority as well as for BIS and DCSF. In extreme cases it can mean that funds are diverted away at local authority level for other activities.

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Q3: The amount for Aimhigher Associates sent in December was different to the amount expected. Why?

A: HEFCE wrote to partnerships in October 09 requesting information about funding for schools and academies. In this letter HEFCE explained that in the first year of Associates funding, the payments will be made as follows:

- Payment to partnership (lead HEI) in August 2009 as one-third of the total gross funding allocated;

- Payment to partnership (lead HEI) in December 2009 as one third of the total funding allocated minus two tranches of the payment due to Local Authorities and academies ie, two thirds of the payment due to them);

- Payment to partnership (lead HEI) in April 2010 as one third of the total funding due minus one tranche (ie, one third) of the payment due to Local Authorities and academies.

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Q4: What information do Academies get about their allocations?

A: Partnerships should make sure that Academies are aware in advance of the funds they can expect, and what those funds are to be used for.

Academies receive a letter twice a year about their recurrent grant. The letter includes a table showing the make up of their grant. The Aimhigher allocation is included in the “GAG” line. In future, Academies will receive a table showing how much is being received by each Academy for Aimhigher, showing the main Aimhigher programme and Aimhigher Associates separately. This information, however, should only be necessary as a check that amounts received are as expected.

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Q5: What should we do when a school becomes an Academy?

A: Academies are not paid via local authorities. They are paid direct by DCSF. So any funds to be received by a new Academy should be identified and notified to HEFCE (Anju Kataria, a.kataria@hefce.ac.uk). HEFCE will then arrange with BIS to ensure that the new Academy starts to receive funds directly.

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Q6: How can I find out how best to work with my local media?

A: Visit the Aimhigher Practitioner website, run by the Aimhigher National Communication Team which is the main site for practitioners to access national and locally targeted messages and media-communications resources. You will also have someone in your region who is a part of the Aimhigher Area Communications Network group and who will be able to give you specialist support.

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