Presentation for Heads and governors Academies Presentation for Heads and governors

Why become an Academy? Freedoms and Flexibilities to improve standards free from local authority control. become their own admissions authority, ability to set own pay and conditions for staff, freedom from following the National Curriculum, able to change term dates and the lengths of school days. Finances Direct from DFE(EFA) Exactly as under local authority funding formulae Plus LACSEG (Per pupil unit 2012/13; £203P, £244S + SEN) Plus Insurance payment Ability to be more entrepreneurial Extra funding available for groups of primary schools Local perceptions Academies being seen in a positive light by parents.

Why not become an academy? Small schools LACSEG is small Small schools may not have capacity to manage the extra responsibilities. E.g. admissions, pensions, etc. Do small schools have capacity? Impact on LA services and schools remaining with LA. Uncertainty about future funding arrangements. Changing patterns of accountability. Audited accounts and financial reports that comply with Companies Act and EFA. Office of the schools commissioner’s responsibility for standards.

Current position in Hertfordshire Number converted % of school type Number in process Primary 16 3.91 7 1.71 Middle 2 33.33 1 16.67 Secondary 47 63.51 2.7 Special 8 4 All Through n/a ESC 14.29 Total 68 13.23 12 2.33

Requirements – outstanding and good schools Quick and easy 3-4 months Straight forward conversion under 2010 act Agree to support another school to raise its performance. VA and Foundation schools need consent of trustees. Schools with a religious character will need the approval of the local Diocese.

Requirements – requires improvement schools More difficult. Requires improvement schools with good capacity to improve and improving results will be considered but the process is challenging and may not be successful. Requires improvement schools can apply with the help of a partner school – longer but may be more likely to succeed. Low attaining or category schools will require a sponsor. Secretary of state can compel category schools to become sponsored academies.

Conversions or sponsored? Uses 2010 Academy Act Quick process Driven entirely by GB Available for Good and Outstanding schools and some that require improvement Sponsored A takeover by sponsor More complex and takes longer Driven largely by DfE and sponsor with involvement of GB and LA Required for school below floor targets or in a category or stuck in RI

The conversion process Registration On line form at: www.education.gov.uk/academies Triggers DfE contact Start consultation Application to convert Governors pass resolution -approve proposal to convert. On line application Start TUPE - requires separate consultation Support for another school Academy order issued Access £25,000 Obtaining Funding Agreement Employ lawyer Set up Trust Register at Companies House Complete; land transfer, CTA, bank account, TUPE, Pensions etc Contracts, loans and outstanding works Sign funding agreement Pre-opening Complete odds and ends Register with exam boards Transfer contracts Agree bank balance with Hertfordshire

Schools in categories Secretary of state has powers to compel Sponsors required and can be allocated by DfE Sponsorship can be a from an (outstanding) school or an academy company Early and positive response from school can increase involvement and reduce sense of a takeover

The sponsorship process 1. Agree a sponsor. GB, LA and Office of Schools’ Commissioner discuss possible sponsors. OSC approves sponsor or allocates one from their list.   2. Agree a plan Sponsor develops a plan for your school in conjunction with OSC, GB and LA A project lead will be allocated by OSC to support the development of sponsors plans. The level of support needed for sponsor, the amount of funding allocated to the project, and the length of time it takes to open the academy will be based on the level of challenge posed by the school.   3. Make legal and financial arrangements Registering the academy with Companies House, transferring the school site, setting up a new bank account and signing the Funding Agreement.    4. Get ready to open Carry out additional CRB checks and set up new financial systems and contracts. Sponsor will agree new governance documents. The EFA will provide sponsor with an indicative funding letter setting out your estimated funding levels.   

PFI academies Now possible DfE underwrites school payments to PFI company LA continues to make contribution above cap Shared facilities would need a shared usage side agreement It is complex and could take up to a year.

The sponsored process Expression of interest Statement of intent Project passed to DfE sponsored academy team. Sponsor, helped by DfE, LA and GB, write expression of interest DfE panel assess and sec of state approves EoI. Overall Project Management (OPM) team appointed by DfE Statement of intent GB decides or compelled to apply Sponsor agreed with DfE DfE issue statement of intent letter Feasibility Stage Lead by OPM through a project management group (PMG). Sponsors produce Academy development plan Conduct consultation on opening of academy. Trust established and registered at Companies House or join sponsor’s company Complete; land transfer, CTA, bank account, TUPE, etc Sign funding agreement Implementation stage Start to implement Academy Development plan Complete odds and ends Start up and environmental improvement grant bids Register with exam boards Transfer contracts Agree bank balance with Hertfordshire

The Trust and Company – single academy trust model. Established by the current GB in consultation with a Foundation if one exists. “Members” – at least 3. Other members can be appointed once set up. Register Trust with companies house ‘Memorandum and Articles of Association’ are needed. Available on DfE website. Memorandum - names and signatures of members. Articles - structure and organisation of management etc. Trust (members) appoints a Board of Governors or Directors as described in articles. Trust enters into funding agreement with DfE. Only a maximum of 1 governor can be an LA governor. Up to 20% or 2 governors whichever is the smallest can be LA associated.

Umbrella trust model Each school will convert as a separate Academy Trust retaining autonomy; e.g. of budget and staffing. Agree to join or set up an UT with a group of schools together. Schools agree a structure for UT that can allow shared governance, collaboration and procurement of services and staff. UT may also set a joint vision for the schools or procure joint services. Popular with Diocese Can be variety of schools; e.g. VA and community.

Multi-academy trust model £25,000 for Primary schools converting together For any joint application, one of the member schools must be ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’ Each school submits a separate application and their Governing Body would need to pass a resolution to convert. Each school’s application will be considered on its merits, and the Secretary of State will only approve those where he is satisfied there are appropriate accountability mechanisms in place to support the weaker schools to improve. Requires detailed negotiation of new structure for funding agreement. The MAT holds ultimate responsibility for all decisions regarding the running of the individual Academies, from setting the curriculum to HR One employer for all staff, Allows the moving of resources through schools in the chain The MAT will ultimately be accountable and responsible for the performance of schools in the chain. The MAT can agree to delegate as much or as little power down to the advisory bodies or local governing bodies of the schools involved

Co-operative College Trust Model Schools or academies. Strong ethos of co-operation with schools, staff, parents and students so that members have a real say. Democratic governance as an academy or trust school. stakeholders engaged through membership and members’ forum. Vision based on shared values of self help, self responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity – included in articles. Co-operative dimensions to curriculum and pedagogy. Schools must become Trust schools Co-operative college support.

Other options Schools can apply to join an existing trust Schools may also sponsor an under-performing school to become an Academy Need to be granted approved sponsor status. Usually outstanding schools Often Teaching schools Federations Spectrum of possibilities – soft to hard Number of member schools limited to 5 Not popular with DfE

Hertfordshire’s position and useful websites DFE Academies site www.education.gov.uk/academies Documents available for download including: Guidance for schools becoming academies Standard lease agreements Memorandum and articles of association Flow Chart Application forms Hertfordshire academy site on TheGrid. www.thegrid.org.uk/leadership/academies Prospects of services Contact details This presentation The Co-operative College www.co-op.ac.uk/schools-and-young-people Tel: 0161 246 2926 Email: schools@co-op.ac.uk Hertfordshire’s position and useful websites Will support any school wishing to convert. Will make available any services we can for academies. Will seek to encourage all schools in Hertfordshire to work in partnership for the benefit of local young people.