Guidance

Post-16 audit code of practice

The post-16 audit code of practice sets out Education and Skills Funding Agency’s (ESFA’s) assurance and accountability requirements for post-16 providers, including further education and sixth-form colleges, and provides information on the requirements for independent training providers (ITPs).

Applies to England

Documents

Post-16 audit code of practice 2021 to 2022

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Supplementary bulletin to the college accounts direction 2020 to 2021 and the post-16 audit code of practice 2020 to 2021

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Details

Post-16 audit code of practice

The post-16 audit code of practice sets out Education and Skills Funding Agency’s (ESFA’s) assurance and accountability requirements for post-16 providers, including further education and sixth-form colleges, and provides information on the requirements for independent training providers (ITPs).

Providers must read the audit code alongside any agreements setting out the conditions of funding, including their grant funding agreements and contracts with ESFA.

The post-16 audit code of practice for the year 2021 to 2022 is relevant for all periods commencing on or after 1 August 2021.

Regularity self-assessment questionnaire

Further education and sixth-form colleges must complete this self-assessment questionnaire, signed by the accounting officer and chair of governors, and pass it to their external auditor to help inform the regularity assurance engagement.

Supplementary bulletin to the college accounts direction 2020 to 2021 and the post-16 audit code of practice 2020 to 2021

This supplementary bulletin has the same status as the college accounts direction and post-16 audit code of practice and should be read as an addendum to these documents. Its aim is to help further education and sixth-form colleges and their auditors/reporting accountants deal with matters arising from the COVID-19 pandemic which may impact on the corporation’s accounts for the year 2021 to 2022. The bulletin introduces a small number of additional requirements.

Further guidance or requirements may be issued as required by the ESFA.

Other resources

Published 2 March 2017
Last updated 6 April 2022 + show all updates
  1. We have updated the post-16 audit code of practice for the 2021 to 2022 financial year and published an updated regularity self-assessment questionnaire.

  2. We have published the supplementary bulletin to the college accounts direction 2020 to 2021 and the post-16 audit code of practice 2020 to 2021.

  3. We have published the post-16 audit code of practice for 2020 to 2021 and the regularity self assessment questionnaire for 2020 to 2021.

  4. We have published a supplementary bulletin to the college accounts direction 2019 to 2020 and the post-16 audit code of practice 2019 to 2020. Its aim is to help sixth-form and further education colleges and their auditors/reporting accountants deal with matters arising from the COVID-19 pandemic which may impact on the corporation’s accounts for the year 2019 to 2020.

  5. We have published the post-16 audit code of practice for 2019 to 2020 (not 2020 to 2021 as previously stated). You can find a list of changes in this edition in the guidance.

  6. We have published the post-16 audit code of practice for 2020 to 2021. You can find a list of changes in this edition in the guidance.

  7. We have published the post-16 audit code of practice for 2018 to 2019 and the regularity self-assessment questionnaire 2019.

  8. Post-16 audit code of practice for 2017 to 2018 and a 2018 regularity self-assessment questionnaire have been updated.

  9. New file Regularity self-assessment questionnaire 2017 uploaded on 20 July 2017.

  10. First published.