Becoming an academy Academies Group North

Presentation contents What is an academy and why should your school become one Conversion process and available funding Governance structures and accountability Available support before and during conversion Next steps and timescales

Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) for the North, Jan Renou Powers delegated from Secretary of State. Responsible for: Tackling underperformance in open academies (inc. free schools, UTCs and studio schools). Taking decisions about new academies, inc. schools that are required to become sponsored academies. Managing the regional sponsor market for academies. Supported in her decision making by a Head Teacher Board of successful academy heads from across the North region.

What is an academy? Academies are state-funded independent schools accountable to the Secretary of State Funding comes directly from central government Some schools convert to academy status Other schools become sponsored academies Academies are run by an Academy Trust

Demand for academy status continues to be high As of 1 December 2015 in England there are: 5,065 open academies 3,518 converters 1,547 sponsored Of all open academies there are: 2,867 primary 1,992 secondary 161 special 45 AP There are: 304 free schools 40 studio schools 39 UTCs Grand total to date 5,448 65% of all secondary schools & 18% of all primary schools are open academies

All schools can potentially become academies Schools that are ‘performing well’ Can convert with an existing Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) or create own MAT with other schools Schools that are not ‘performing well’ but are above ‘the floor’ Can convert in a MAT with strong school/s Schools that are below the ‘floor’ and not performing well Can convert in a strong MAT or with a sponsor MAT (depends on circs) ‘ performing well’ is determined by: Ofsted rating; exam results; comparison to similar schools Schools are below ‘the floor’ if both exam results and pupil progression is below a certain level.

Academies are state-funded independent schools that give heads and teachers greater freedoms and flexibilities:  the ability to set their own pay and conditions for staff  greater control of their budget  freedom to change the length of terms and school days  freedom to spend the money the local authority currently spends on their behalf - and control over where it is targeted  greater autonomy - academies define their relationship with their local authorities. Benefits of academy status

Benefits of being in a multi-academy trust (MAT)  Economies of scale – pooled/shared finances, more flexibility to respond to needs  Shared services – centralised HR, admin, legal advice, property  Broader curriculum offer – skills & resources between sites, enrichment  Opportunities for staff movement – CPD, sharing and developing skills and experience  Career development opportunities  Succession planning

Academy 1 Local governing body Academy 3 Local governing body Academy 2 Local governing body The Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) The MAT is one legal entity, accountable for all schools within the chain Members (5) * think shareholders of a company Trustees**(6-12) have day to day responsibility for the running of the trust **think company directors The MAT has a Master Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State Each academy in the MAT has its own Supplemental Funding Agreement

Who are the Members and Trustees? Board of Trustees (small strategic group) Company Directors/Charitable Trustees Appointed by Members Responsible for: The day to day running of the trust Ensuring compliance Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State Members (5) Agree the Articles of Association which defines how the trust will run Appoint/remove Trustees Reviews company accounts Hold the Board of Trustees to account Trust structure is a matter for you to decide, within certain parameters. For example, no more than 19.9% of Members can be ‘LA influenced’ and no more than 20% at Trustee level. The headteacher or any other Academy Trust employees must not be a member (DfE policy, good governance, but not the law). The Articles of Association detail the requirements.

Accountability MATs must conduct their academies within the terms and requirements of: –the Articles of Association; –any legislation or legal requirement that applies to academies, including the Independent School Standards and legislation about meeting the needs of pupils with SEN and disabilities; –the Academies Financial Handbook; and –the Master Funding Agreement and each academy’s supplemental funding/land agreements.

Staffing On conversion all staff TUPE over on their current terms and conditions Must offer access to national pension schemes to staff Academies can set a pay and reward structure that best meets their needs but any changes (“measures”) must be consulted on

Available Funding A £25k conversion grant for each school to help cover the cost of converting to Academy status. Sponsored academies may attract additional funding – this will be agreed on a case by case basis by the RSC. Small school supplement (SSS) funding Small School Supplement funding is available for small primary schools (<210 pupils) joining an existing multi-academy trust (MAT). Primaries with 100 pupils or less are eligible to apply for £5k and those with between 100 and 210 pupils are eligible to apply for £2k. The supplement is intended to provide additional support to the schools in meeting expenses associated with the conversion process. more…

Primary Academy Chains Development Grant Aims to help clusters of primaries to convert. Available until 31 March Additional £75k for applications where 3 schools are forming a new multi- academy trust (MAT) where the majority are primaries (but not sponsor- led). Up to £5k awarded per additional primary school (up to maximum £100k per chain). Stand-alone open academies and schools converting into academies; provided they are setting up a minimum 3 school MAT with at least 2 primaries applying to convert (not including a sponsored school). Existing MATs are NOT eligible for the £75k grant. However, groups of 2 or more primary schools joining an existing MAT, can apply for a one-off grant of £20,000 per primary school (up to a maximum of £80K) provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

Capital funding from EFA Condition Improvement Fund Additional capital funding that academies and SFCs can apply for each year. Highly oversubscribed. Eligibility: open academies schools with Academy Orders approved e.g. by 1 November 2015 with a FA due to be signed by 31 March projects per academy Primary/special – £20k-£4m per project Secondary/all-through/SFC - £50k-£4m per project Cheaper projects funded from revenue or DFC Prioritises keeping buildings safe & in good working order. Addresses issues with significant consequences that revenue and DFC cannot meet (85% of availability): Poor building conditions; building compliance; energy efficiency; health & safety Can also support expansion projects (15% of availability) for Good and Outstanding academies to expand facilities/floor space to increase admissions or address overcrowding.

Conversion process GB makes resolution to convert or become a sponsored academy naming the Trust Submit application (online for converters) Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) decision – Academy Order Due diligence & legal work Sign Funding Agreement Open as an Academy Should take 4-5 months to complete Consultation can be carried out at any point but must be completed before the Funding Agreement is signed. GB can resolve to convert without having to wait for consultation.

Support and advice Academies Group North Open academies/MATs Organisations such as New Schools Network, Freedom & Autonomy for Schools (FASNA) and SSAT RSC events academy-information-for-schools

Next steps GB discussion with SLT (or more widely) GB makes a resolution to convert Gain diocese or foundation trustees consent Submit application