A LEADING LAW FIRM WITH A APPROACH Schools Working Together – A Presentation for Voluntary Schools Rowan Ferguson

The Changing Landscape Emphasis on working together Push for Academies Reduced LA budgets

Benefits of Working Together Sharing skilled staff Improved purchasing power Joint projects for staff and pupils Recruiting talent

Where are we now? (1) Maintained school Voluntary aided/foundation school –incorporated governing body (charitable) –staff employed by governing body –premises owned by Diocese/foundation/local authority –admissions authority is the governing body

Where are we now? (2) Voluntary controlled school –incorporated governing body (charitable) –staff employed by LA –premises owned by LA/Diocese/foundation –admissions authority is LA

The Governing Body Recipient of delegated budget Runs the school Employs staff (except those on service level agreements) unless is VC school Exempt charitable status

Voluntary Aided Schools

Voluntary Controlled Schools

Community Schools

Trust/Foundation Schools

Academies

Working Together – Maintained Schools Trust schools Collaboration (soft federation) Federations

Working Together as Trust Schools

Working Together in Collaborations

Working Together in Federations

What is an Academy? (1) Independent state sector school –funding comes (currently) direct from central government Charitable company limited by guarantee –governing body become directors/trustees of company –employs staff –owns premises Admissions authority is the Academy company/trust

What is an Academy? (2) Company Limited by guarantee (rather than shares) Members are guarantors rather than shareholders Members = –(“old” academies) Sponsor/sponsor appointees/Chair/additionals/[SoS] –(“new” academies) some of School’s GB/[foundation appointees]/Chair/additionals/[SoS] Directors

What is an Academy (3) Company is a charity –Trustees = Directors Charitable objects “The Academy Trust’s object is specifically restricted to the following: to advance for the public benefit education in the United Kingdom, in particular but without prejudice to the generality of the forgoing, by establishing, maintaining, carrying on, managing and developing a school with a designated Church of England religious character offering a broad and balanced curriculum…” Exempt charity –subject to charity law but not on the register of charities –no charity number

(Single) Academy Trust Structure

Academy Federations/Chains (1)

Academy Federations/Chains (2)

Academy Federations/Chains (3)

Contact Details Rowan Ferguson Head of Education Newcastle Direct Dial: York Direct Dial: Mobile: Content of all slides © Dickinson Dees 2011