Becoming an Academy March 2015 Read the stories behind the photos:

Academies Act 2010 offers all schools the opportunity to become Academies, with the support of their governing body.

Demand for Academy status continues to be high At 1 March 2015 – 4,580 Academies open in England –3,205 converters –1,375 sponsored 140 special schools, 2,476 primaries, 1,927 secondaries, 37 Alternative Provision 62% of secondary schools in England are open as Academies 15 % of all primary schools in England are open as Academies

Academies are publicly funded independent schools that give heads and teachers greater freedoms and flexibilities including; –freedom from local authority control –the ability to set their own pay and conditions for staff –freedom in delivering the curriculum –greater control of their budget –freedom to change the length of terms –freedom to spend the money the local authority currently spends on their behalf. Becoming an Academy gives professionals greater scope to innovate and raise standards for the pupils in their schools, while remaining clearly accountable for the outcomes they deliver. Academies - Key features

Academies - Accountability Academies are run by the Academy Trust which is subject to company and charitable law Academy Trust cannot profit from the Academy. Academy Trustees have a legal duty to act in the interests of the Academy The freedoms, rights and responsibilities of the Trust are set out in a Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State Ofsted inspections are carried out on the same basis as all other state funded schools The Education Funding Agency (EFA) is responsible for funding and working with open Academies

Academies are working together to improve performance All schools that are performing well are expected to work with another school to bring about an improvement in standards An Academy is part of a chain if it is part of a Multi-Academy Trust or an Umbrella Trust Academy chains are growing rapidly with hundreds of Academies now part of chains The Primary Academy Chain Development Grant has been available to support chains of schools convert Special Academies can support improvements to SEN provision and attainment and well-being of pupils with Special Education Needs

Some benefits of chains Sharing best practice Economic benefits, such as centralised services The ability to focus funds where they are most needed Increased and flexible staffing resources High-quality staff development opportunities

Options for Collaboration The Multi-Academy Trust model – a group of schools which work together under a single Trust. This model has been in use for some time in sponsored academy chains. Board Members have ultimate control of the Academy Trust and are responsible for holding the Trustees to account. Umbrella Trust Model –an overarching umbrella trust which has oversight of what is happening in each school and will be able to influence how the schools in the chain are run. Each school has its own Academy Trust. … but it is how these are put into practice that makes the difference.

Multi Academy Trust Example The MAT may set up either a local governing body or advisory body for each academy. The MAT can agree to delegate some matters to this local governing body. MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST Members Trustees Academy 1Academy 2Academy 3 Local Governing Body /Advisory Body Local Governing Body /Advisory Body Local Governing Body /Advisory Body There is only one legal entity accountable for all schools within the chain, the Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). The MAT has one set of Articles which governs all the academies in that chain. The MAT has a master funding agreement with the Secretary of State

Academy A Members Trustees Academy B Multi-Academy Trust Members Trustees UMBRELLA TRUST The Academies continue to exist as separate legal entities which sit under an overarching Umbrella Trust. Each Academy continues to have its own Articles and funding agreement with the Secretary of State. It is possible to have a combination of single Academy Trusts and Multi-Academy Trusts under an Umbrella Trust The Umbrella Trust can have a number of collaborative roles agreed by schools within the UT e.g. setting a joint vision and strategies for the group of schools, procuring services etc. The schools or group setting up the Umbrella Trust can agree the Umbrella Trust’s membership. If the Academies want to be linked by shared governance then it can be agreed that the UT appoints a number of members/trustees in each Academy. Appoints Trustees School Improvement Board Oversight of performance, clear intervention triggers Funding Agreement Articles Funding Agreement Articles Members Trustees Multi-Academy Funding Agreement The AT and UT may agree for the UT to support the academies in improving standards. The UT could do this through establishing a panel Umbrella Trust Example

Primary Academy Chain Development Grant An Academy becomes part of a chain if it is part of a Multi-Academy Trust or an Umbrella Trust. A one off grant of £100,000 (per chain) has been available for primary schools applying to form a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). There must be 3 or more schools intending to join the chain and an extra £10,000 has been available for each additional school joining the MAT. Small schools received a supplement to the PACDG. Schools with less than 100 pupils received an additional £5,000 and those with between 100 and 210 pupils received £2,000 Interested schools should contact

Academy Finance and Accounting

Academy trusts are … Exempt charities and companies limited by guarantee Public sector bodies – so designated by the Office of National Statistics and so subject to consolidation into EFA and DfE In a legal relationship with the Secretary of State set out in a funding agreement and its adjunct the Academies Financial Handbook Required to appoint an accounting officer who is personally responsible to Parliament and the accounting officers of EFA and DfE for the resources under their control Required to produce audited, publicly available accounts in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for Charities

Academy framework Articles of Association  The Articles define a trust’s governance arrangements  There are model articles as provided by the DfE Funding Agreement  Provides the framework within which the academy will operate Academies Financial Handbook  Brings together and clarifies financial accountability requirements for academies (reviewed annually and published in June)

Primary Associate Academies FASNA (Freedom and Autonomy for Schools - National Association) run the Primary Associate Academies (PAAs) programme on behalf of the Department PAAs are headteachers/principals, chairs of governors and school business managers who have successfully led, managed and learned from the process of Academy conversion and who are keen to share their experience with other primary schools PAAs are members of Academy senior management teams who work with schools interested in converting to Academy status. The programme started in October 2012 and there are currently 53 PAAs. Requests from 300 schools have been supported through the PAA project to date, of these approximately 200 were proactively identified by PAAs themselves from within their own networks. To access the support of a Primary Associate Academy contact

Conversion process – four simple stages 1) Register interest on DfE site Governing Body formally pass resolution Seek approval from school’s foundation / trustees if applicable Begin consultation with interested parties Start informal discussions with staff about possible transfer of their employment (for LA if they are the employer) Gather information on who owns land and premises 2) Submit application Submit application, with basic information on financial state, academic performance etc, to DFE Your Project Lead may ask you or the LA questions about the information you provide Formally begin TUPE process – including providing written information, consulting unions etc Begin to firm up your proposals to support another school to raise standards Secretary of State may decide to approve application and make an Academy Order. This is a firm commitment, but your actual conversion not fixed yet You can now claim a £25,000 grant to help with costs of conversion

3) Reach Funding Agreement You must now formally set up the company and register with Companies House Prepare all the legal documentation for the Academy Trust, for example Memorandum & Articles of Association, using model documents on DfE site and submit Agree what the land and school building arrangements will be – eg leasehold or freehold Arrange with LA for transfer of assets, loans etc Complete consultation and ensure process for informing staff is complete Agree date you want to convert 4) Pre-opening Final preparations Transfer or renew contracts or licences to the Academy Trust Make sure you have insurance Put in place new financial systems if required Register the Academy with examination bodies Open as an Academy! Time frame varies, but a minimum of three months between Application to Opening - however, you choose the pace which suits your school

Find out more To apply to become an Academy, register an interest or simply find out more, visit our website: or