Academies


Communication is key: The school must consult with and inform the elected representatives of the employees as to what the transfer will mean


Focus on academies


As of April 2011, 162 schools had become academies and a further 473 were in the pipeline. We asked Mark Lucas, vice-chair of governors of Moss Lane Primary School in Godalming, Surrey, and a partner in a fi rm of solicitors, to answer some essential questions for headteachers still weighing up their options


Why convert? The Academies Act 2010 allows schools in the maintained sector to become independent schools free from local authority control but retaining public-funding. The principle of funding is that an academy should receive the same


level of funding for each pupil as an equivalent-sized maintained school. While this ensures that a school should not be fi nancially advantaged by conversion the academy will: ■ Have greater freedom as to how it spends its money. ■ Receive “top-up” funding directly – this is the level of extra funding that normally goes to the local authority based on the level of local authority funding already calculated for the school plus additional funding for central services provided by the local authority.


It is this “top-up” funding or “top-slicing” which is attracting many


schools to apply for academy status as the difference is significant. Schools may look at the “ready-reckoners” on the Department for


“Academies are free to set their length


of day, number and length of terms, how much they pay staff and a myriad of other operational matters which can make a real difference to outcomes”


Education (DfE) website (www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/ typesofschools/academies/becominganacademy/a0061399/academy- funding) for an indication of their likely funding. In addition, academies are free to set their length of day, number


and length of terms, how much they pay staff and a myriad of other operational matters which can make a real difference to outcomes.


What do academies look like? Academies (otherwise known as “academy trusts”) are charitable companies limited by guarantee and registered at Companies House.


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Do academies still h ave a governing body? The governing body of the academy trust is responsible in the same way for the management of the school and its obligations are to: ■ Ensure provision of quality education (in fact of a broad and balanced curriculum, including English, mathematics and science, religious education and a daily act of collective worship).


■ Challenge and monitor performance. ■ Manage the school’s fi nances and property.


How does a school convert to an academy? The process is quite straightforward. The governing body decides to investigate conversion and then it: ■ Consults with, in the words of the law, “such persons as they think appropriate” – i.e. all local bodies or groups having strong links with the school, the local authority, parents, pupils, staff, any relevant religious authority, any foundation etc.


■ Applies to the secretary of state for an “academy order”. Ofsted “outstanding” or “good with outstanding features” schools should receive an order automatically unless “exceptional circumstances” apply – for example, any signifi cant change since the last Ofsted rating or any substantial budget defi cit.


■ Creates the academy trust by applying to Companies House. Continued on page 28


They have no shareholders and are held on trust by the governors. Most importantly, none of the income or property of the academy trust may be used except for the benefi t of the school.


What are “free schools”? Free schools are set up as academies. The difference is that a free school is a new school, which has not converted from a predecessor school.


Do academies need sponsorship? No, unlike academies established under the Education Act 1996, external sponsorship is not needed (at least for schools rated by Ofsted as “outstanding” or “good with outstanding features” in the school’s most recent inspection).


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