1 Academy Conversion John Edmunds Academy Converters Division

An Academy is … Academies are publicly- funded independent schools that provide a first-class education. 2

Broad political support “[An academy] belongs not to some remote bureaucracy, not to the rulers of government, local or national, but to itself, for itself. The school is in charge of its own destiny. This gives it pride and purpose. And most of all, freed from the extraordinarily debilitating and often, in the worst sense, politically correct interference from state or municipality, academies have just one thing in mind, something shaped not by political prejudice but by common sense: what will make the school excellent.” 3

Over quite a long time … 4

Academies Act

Routes to Academy Status 6 Schools that are ‘performing well’ Can convert to Academy status Schools that are not ‘performing well’ but are above ‘the floor’ Can convert in a chain with a stronger school Schools that are below the ‘floor’ Can convert in a Multi- Academy Trust (chain) with a strong school Continue to be tackled through Sponsored approach Worst performing schools

Academy Constitution Company –Registered at companies house. –Limited by guarantee. Charity –Not for profit. 7

Academy Trust Funding Agreement –With the secretary of state –For 7 years, rolling thereafter Articles of Association –Sets out the objects of the Trust (what it exists to do) 8

Academy Trusts Members –Think: Shareholders –Accountable for the Trust to the Secretary of State Governors –Think: Directors –Run the Academy on a day to day basis –Accountable to the Members 9

Academy Trust Governors Those appointed by the Members Head Teacher/ Principal At least two parent governors No more than one third Academy employees (including the Head Teacher/ Principal) Co-opted governors (no limit, but any employees count to the one third limit) 10

Academies – the money General Annual Grant (GAG), including: Local Authority Central Spend Equivalent Grant (LACSEG) 11

Lord Nash – Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools Two years as one of the Department’s non-Executive Directors; Academy Sponsor (Future Academy Trust) Note: very interested in Governance 12

Multi-Academy Trusts 13 Multi-Academy Trust Master Funding Agreement Articles Directors Academy A Supplemental Funding Agreement Local Governing Body Academy B Supplemental Funding Agreement Local Governing Body Academy C Supplemental Funding Agreement Local Governing Body

Umbrella Trusts 14 Umbrella Trust £ Contribution Purchasing Shared Services School Improvement Multi-Academy Trust Multi-Academy Funding Agreement Members Directors Academy A Funding Agreement Articles Members Directors Academy B Funding Agreement Articles Members Directors

Conversion process It’s like moving house ! 15

Conversion process 1 Application (make an offer) Academy Order (offer accepted) Conversion Grant (special offer) 16

Conversion process 2 Engage solicitors (land searches etc) Funding Agreement (exchange of contracts) Conversion date (moving in) 17

2619 Academies as of January

72 in the pipeline in Y&H 19

One more thing – conversion time About 5 months Longer for PFI Some projects get ‘stuck’ 20

Any Questions ? 21

22 Thank you