Academy Conversion Process Katherine Cowell and Jane Spence Academies Regional Delivery Group Katherine.cowell@education.gov.uk Jane.spence@education.gov.uk 1

Secretary of State, Justine Greening’s view on a school-led education system: Education Select Committee, 1 September 2016 “I do want to see all schools over time become academies, but I think our focus has to be on the schools that are struggling and not doing well enough for children at the moment. Our hope and expectation is that schools will want to steadily take advantage of the benefits that academies can bring, but our focus will be on those schools where we feel that standards need to be raised and they need to do a better job of delivering attainment and progress for children.”

Regional School Commissioners Monitor academy performance and prescribe necessary intervention Take decisions on creation of new academies and MATs Manage regional sponsors and approval process Free school applications Take decisions on significant changes to open academies New powers arising from the 2016 Education & Adoption Bill

Regional decision making The RSCs are responsible for making decisions that are appropriate for the local area which they oversee – ensuring the education landscape in their area functions well within the regional context. To make these decisions the RSC is supported by a headteacher board. Advise the RSC in decision making Bring local knowledge and professional expertise Provide challenge to the RSC’s thinking Tackling academy underperformance New academy provision Sponsor approvals Changes to open academies HTB members are not included in decisions where they could be conflicted. Headteacher Board (HTB) responsibilities Decisions HTB offer input on

The North Headteacher Board Zoe Carr CEO - WISE Academies Chris Clarke Exec Head - Queen Elizabeth School Nick Hurn Exec Head – Cardinal Hume Catholic School Lesley Powell CEO – North East Learning Trust Andy Bayston CEO – Northern Star Academies Trust Elizabeth Horne CEO – Horizons Specialist Academies Trust Sir Michael Wilkins Retired CEO of Outwood Grange Academies

Growth of academy programme in the North

North region academy profile 350 open academies 256 converter academies 78 sponsored academies 10 free schools 2 studio schools 1 CTC and 3 UTCs

Routes to becoming an academy CONVERTER ACADEMIES Can convert to an academy, normally forming or joining a MAT Schools that are ‘performing well’ Can convert in a multi-academy MAT with a strong school Schools not ‘performing well’ but above floor SPONSORED ACADEMIES Schools below ‘floor’ Convert to join a strong MAT with a sponsor Schools below floor or judged as ‘inadequate’ Become sponsored academies with a sponsor-led MAT 8

Conversion process (4 to 5 months usually) Before you apply Applying Setting up / joining a trust Transferring responsibilities to AT Prepare to Open Open Consultation may be carried out at any point but must be completed before the Funding Agreement is signed.

Planning to convert Before you apply Register interest via .GOV website You will be assigned a Project Lead to support you through the process. Become familiar with the Academies Financial Handbook Consider the different types of academy Get consent - resolution of governing body to convert, consent from trust or foundation, consent from religious body (for faith and church schools) Consider your school’s financial position and discuss this with your project lead Informal discussions with staff (including the TUPE process), parents and pupils

Making an application Applying Most converters apply on line (paper application for special schools & PFI). We need to understand the proposed governance (i.e. members & trustees). Notify LA of intention to convert (especially if PFI, deficit recovery plan or building works). Consider what legal support you will use and who will be the lead contact in the school. RSCs take decisions on applications for academy orders at HTB meetings Once submitted, we take 2-6 wks to assess applications, and put to Headteacher Board (HTB) for decision If approved, an academy order is issued. £25k grant approved in parallel - paid into your school account within 14 working days

Setting up or joining a trust Transfer responsibility to AT Next steps to opening Setting up your trust Complete model funding documents Appoint trustees Register at Companies House Transfer responsibilities Complete funding agreement and land transfer Transfer staff through TUPE Register teaching staff with Teachers' Pensions Prepare to open Sign the funding agreement Open trust bank account Complete DBS checks Open Receive first payment Publish funding agreement on website Welcome pack from EFA Setting up or joining a trust Transfer responsibility to AT Prepare to Open Open

Multi Academy Trusts Crucial importance of strength and quality Converting into a MAT strengthens a school Decreases professional and institutional isolation Performance can be driven up across the trust’s academies Effective governance structures a key factor in success Economies of scale Collaboration

Benefits of the Multi Academy Trust Excellent leadership being spread across ALL partner schools Leadership development then happens across all schools Sharing of resources without any barriers Reduced costs when contracts go across a group of school – can save up to 10% of individual school budgets Ultimately all the schools become campuses of the whole ‘school’, which is the Trust Each site and all staff have greater ‘clout’ across the whole community