Overview

The academiesAcademies accountsAccounts directionDirection is used by academy trusts, their auditors and reporting accountants to prepare and audit financial statements for the accounting period ending on 31 August annually.

In addition to the accountsAccounts direction,Direction, 2 further documents have been published:

• a model set of accounts for academy trusts (known commonly as the ‘Coketown model’)
• an auditor framework and guide, primarily for use by academy trust external auditors and reporting accountantsaccountants.

The accountsAccounts directionDirection and model set of accounts have the same contractual status, and compliance with both documents is a requirement of an academy trust’s funding agreement.

The changes made to this edition can be found on page 86 of the direction and page 3 of the model accounts.

The framework and guide applies to all external auditors and reporting accountants, who provide statutory audits and regularity reviews to academy trusts. Its purpose is to:

• explain external auditors’ obligations, under the Companies Act 2006, to issue an audit opinion as to whether the academy trusts’ annual accounts present a true and fair view
• prescribe to external auditors, in their role as reporting accountants, the requirements for their regularity review and report

Trusts should also refer to the Academy trustTrust handbookHandbook 20242023..

Academies accountsAccounts directionDirection 20242023 to 20252024

Academies account direction 20242023 to 20252024

PDF, 708792 KB, 10395 pages

Model set of accounts for academy trusts 20242023 to 20252024

Academies model accounts 20242023 to 20252024

PDF, 767721 KB, 71 pages

Framework and guide for external auditors and reporting accountants of academy trusts 20242023 to 20252024

Framework and guide for external auditors and reporting accountants 20242023 to 20252024

PDF, 318374 KB, 4134 pages

Submitting your 2023 to 2024 financial statements

The accounts submission coversheet online form is open.

Accounts submission coversheet (ASC)(ASC) login

Use your DfE Sign-inlogin details to access the form. If you have used this type of online form before (for example, the last time you submitted your ASC or the schools resource management self-assessment tool checklist), you can log in using the same details.

Do not use your IDAMS registration details. This will not work with this form.

You can also ‘sign up’ to create a new password for the checklist return.

The deadline for submission wasis 31 December 2024.

Guide to submitting academy trust audited financial statements 2023 to 2024

PDF, 714 KB, 20 pages

You must upload your audited financial statements, auditor’s management letter and your internal scrutiny summary report within the accounts submission coversheet. They must be in a PDF format and not password protected.

You must also:

• publish your accounts on your academy trust’s website as soon as possible after approval by the trustees and by 31 January 2025
• file these accounts with Companies House within 9 months of the end of the accounting period - for most trusts, this will be 31 May 2025

Academies accountsAccounts directionDirection 20232022 to 20242023

The academiesAcademies accountsAccounts directionDirection 20232022 to 20242023 explained how to prepare and submit financial statements for the period ending 31 August 2024.2023. In addition to the accountsAccounts direction,Direction, 2two further documents were published:

• published – a model set of accounts
• and an auditor framework and guide

guide.

Academies accountAccounts directionDirection 20232022 to 20242023

PDF, 792680 KB, 95 pages

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Request an accessible format.

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Model set of accounts for academy trusts 20232022 to 20242023

Academies model accounts 20232022 to 20242023

PDF, 721659 KB, 7170 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

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Framework and guide for external auditors and reporting accountants of academy trusts 20232022 to 20242023

Framework and guide for external auditors and reporting accountants 2023of academy trusts 2022 to 20242023

PDF, 343345 KB, 3335 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email ESFA.GOVUK-ENQUIRIES@education.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

ContactAcademies usAccounts Direction supplementary bulletin: July 2021

UseThe theAcademies customerAccounts helpDirection: portalsupplementary bulletin July 2021 provided guidance to gettrustees, inaccounting touchofficers ifand youtheir external auditors on matters arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have enquiries.had an impact on the accounts. The supplementary bulletin is no longer applicable from 2023 to 2024.