Academies budget forecast return
This year’s BFR will open on 3 June 2025 and the deadline is 28 August 2025.
You can start completing the BFR when it opens.
The BFR is a collection that spans the past, current and future financial years. It collects data in a format to allow for academic and financial year analysis by the Department for Education (DfE).
BFR 2025 covers these periods:
To find out more about how to use the BFR online form, use the link below for detailed guidance.
There are 2 versions of the Excel workbook to help you prepare your BFR:
- a multi-page version structured to look like the online form
Both versions have the same questions and validations contained within the online form.
277 KB
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346 KB
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 [email protected]. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Your BFR return must reflect any academies transferring in or out of your trust. The re-brokerage of academies guidance contains details of what you need to include in your BFR based on the month of transfer.
The purpose of the BFR lines quick reference guide (PDF, 4.51 MB, 35 pages) is to provide ‘one click’ access to specific lines of the budget forecast return to enable you to complete your return.
The budget forecast return online form uses the DfE Sign-in (DSI) registration service. Academy trusts must be registered and set up to use the service before they can access the form. Read this guide on how to register and set up the online forms for the BFR.
You can contact us using the customer help portal.
