1. Presentation for Heads and governors
Academies
Presentation
for Heads and governors

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. The conversion process
Registration
On line form at:
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

9. 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

10. 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.   

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. Hertfordshire’s position and useful websites
DFE Academies site
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.
Prospects of services
Contact details
This presentation
The Co-operative College
Tel:
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.