TCaF Blog Title Image

Trust Capacity Fund (TCaF)

PAG Staff2024, Article, bid writing, Capacity Mapping, free schools, Fund, Grant, Project Management, Recruitment, TCaF

The Trust Capacity Fund (TCaF)The Department for Education’s Trust Capacity Fund (TCaF) is designed to support the growth and development of academy trusts in England, offering financial assistance for trusts to enhance their capacity for managing more schools effectively. This funding aims at encouraging trusts to expand and improve, particularly by taking on underperforming schools in areas of high need, …

Teacher training graphic

Government introduces new teacher training apprenticeships

PAG Staff2024, Article, Leadership, Policy, Recruitment, Schools

Government introduces newteaching apprenticeshipsThis autumn marks a revolutionary shift in the landscape of teacher training, recruitment, and education with the launch of a new teacher degree apprenticeship program. Aimed at transforming the way schools recruit teachers, this initiative is designed to support individuals who wish to earn while they study for a degree, offering a high-quality, alternative route into the …

The Emergency School Improvement Fund (ESIF)

PAG Staff2024, Article, bid writing, free schools, Fund, Grant, Schools

The Emergency School Improvement Fund (ESIF) Explained The Emergency School Improvement Fund (ESIF) from the Department for Education (DfE) is a crucial fund for schools to address challenges that demand immediate intervention. It is designed to offer financial support to schools that are facing unexpected or imminent failure in various areas such as leadership, governance, safeguarding, human resources, and finance.What is …

11-16 Education Committee Report: Government Responds

PAG Staff2024, Article, free schools, Government reporting, Policy, Press Release

House of Lords 11-16 Education Report and Government Response Education for 11–16 Year Olds Committee Report In a 2023 report titled ‘Requires Improvement: Urgent Change for 11-16 Education’, a House of Lords Committee outlined relatively severe reforms it felt were urgently needed to improve the standards of 11-16 year olds’ education, with particular reference to the digital and green economies. A brief …

Kreston Reeves UK Academies Benchmark Report 2024

PAG Staff2024, Article, free schools, Fund, Governance, Leadership, online resources, Schools

Kreston Reeves UKAcademies Benchmark Report 2024The Kreston Reeves UK Academies Benchmark Report for 2024 presents an in-depth analysis of the financial health and operational challenges facing academy trusts across the United Kingdom. The report, which draws on data from nearly 300 Trusts and over 2,300 schools, offers a comprehensive overview of the sector’s current state, highlighting the resilience and challenges …

DfE Updates ESFA Guidance

PAG Staff2024, Article, free schools, Fund, Grant, Schools

DfE Updates ESFA Guidance The DfE recently updated it’s information and guidance on the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Please keep reading below for a summary of the key additions and changes. If you’re interested in funding for your school or trust, PAG has a significant history of supporting our clients to secure funding and would be delighted to speak …

The graphic says "childcare sufficiency assessments (CSA)" and has a drawing of children holding hands.

Childcare Sufficiency Assessments (CSAs)

PAG Staff2023, Article, Case Studies, Early Years

Childcare Sufficiency Assessments (CSAs)OverviewAt PAG, one influential service we offer is support with Childcare Sufficiency Assessments (CSAs). Since our formation in 2015, we’ve undertaken CSAs for 30 local authorities (LAs) throughout England and Wales and have experience which stretches back to childcare audits in the early days of Sure Start and the Childcare Act 2006. Local authorities have a crucial …

Play Sufficiency Assessments (PSA)

PAG Staff2023, Article, Case Studies, Leadership, Project Management, PSA, Testimonials

PSA: Play Sufficiency AssessmentOverviewIn 2022, PAG was commissioned by two Welsh local authorities, Pembrokeshire County Council and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, to conduct Play Sufficiency Assessments (PSAs) to evaluate the quality, sufficiency, and quantity of play areas for children in Pembrokeshire and Merthyr Tydfil.    PSAs are designed to help ensure children from 0-17 have accessible, high-quality, diverse play areas …

External Reviews of Governance

PAG Staff2023, Article, Capacity Mapping, Governance, Leadership, RAAC, Schools

External Reviews of GovernanceReviewing Your GovernanceIn this short blog, we discuss the importance and nuances of External Reviews of Governance (ERG) within the education sector and particularly within multi-academy trusts.Regular governance reviews are a critical aspect of good governance, demonstrating a trust’s commitment not only to the quality of its leadership and decision-makers, but also its preparedness for future plans …

RAAC: November Update

PAG Staff2023, Article, COVID-19, RAAC, Schools, Uncategorised

RAAC: November Update The Department for Education (DfE) has recently updated their list of schools and colleges confirmed to contain Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). As of October 16th, 214 schools are currently affected by RAAC. RAAC is a type of concrete which is lightweight and easier to produce than standard concrete but is less stable and prone to damage when …