Department For Education
Submit your self-assessment checklist
The online form for 2023 to 2024 will be available in January 2024.
If you have used this type of online form before, for example, the last time you submitted your checklist or the accounts submission coversheet, you can log in using the same details. Do not use your identity and access management system (IDAMS) registration details, as these will not work with this form.
If you have forgotten your login details, or have not used the form before, request a new password or create a DfE account.
The provides guidance on the questions.
Overview
All academy trusts which have an open academy must complete the self-assessment checklist each year.
The checklist helps governing bodies and trust boards to:
- check they have appropriate financial management and governance arrangements
- check they are meeting the right standards to achieve a good level of financial health and resource management
- identify areas for change to make sure resources are used to support high-quality teaching and the best education outcomes for pupils
As well as helping trusts to identify areas for potential improvement in their resource management, the checklist provides assurance to ESFA that trusts have the right processes, systems and structures in place to help them to achieve a good level of financial health and resource management.
The checklist was previously part of the school resource management self-assessment tool (SRMSAT).
Who needs to complete the self-assessment checklist
All academy trusts which have an open academy on 31 December 2023 must complete and submit a 2023 to 2024 self-assessment checklist.
Local authority maintained schools should use the schools financial value standard.
Complete your checklist
The checklist covers 6 areas:
- governance
- trust strategy
- setting the annual budget
- staffing
- value for money
- protecting the public purse
As youre completing your self-assessment checklist, you may find it useful to refer to:
- the
- the Academies Trust Handbook
- the governance handbook
- guidance on operating an academy trust as a going concern
- information on integrated curriculum and financial planning
- guidance on good estate management in schools
- the school resource management collection
Self-assessment dashboard
The self-assessment dashboard helps trusts to complete their checklists. To find your self-assessment dashboard:
Search for your school(s) on the schools financial benchmarking service.
Click on start a comparison.
Click on self-assessment dashboard.
Guidance on completing the self-assessment dashboard is available.
The dashboard provides red, amber or green (RAG) ratings against a schools data. This indicates how its spending and characteristics compare with similar schools or nationally recognised bandings and includes possible follow-up actions.
The dashboard was previously part of the SRMSAT.
Contact us
Send feedback on the checklist and guidance to school.resourcemanagement@education.gov.uk.
If youd like to receive occasional updates from DfE on school resource management, sign up to our school business professional contact list.
Last updated 22 November 2023 +show all updates
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Removed the link to the online form. The online form for 2023 to 2024 will be available in January 2024.
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Updated the dates for 2023 to 2024 and added the '2023 to 2024 checklist support notes'.
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A link to the online form for academy trusts to submit their self-assessment checklist has been added.
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The document 2022 to 2023 checklist support notes has replaced the 2021 to 2022 equivalent. Changes from 2021 to 2022 are outlined in the document, under the heading What has changed in this edition.
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Added a link to the online form for academy trusts to submit their return and updated the 2021 to 2022 checklist support notes with guidance on how to make the submission.
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Updated checklist support notes for 2021 to 2022 including changes made to the questions and information on how to submit the form.