Academies
Presentation
for Heads and governors
www.hertsdirect.org
Why become an Academy?
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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)
– Based on local authority funding formulae
– Plus Education Services Grant (Per pupil unit 2014/15: £140)
– Early years funding (where applicable) from LA
– Top up funding for high needs pupils from LA
– Growth fund from LA for agreed expansions (where applicable)
– Ability to be more entrepreneurial
Local perceptions
– Academies being seen in a positive light by parents.
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Why not become an academy?
• Small schools LACSEG is small
• Small schools may not have capacity to manage the
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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.
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Current position in Hertfordshire
Number
converted
% of
school
type
Number in
process
% of
school
type
Primary
24
6.06
1
0.25
Middle
3
75
0
0
Secondary/Upper
52
70.42
0
0
Special
3
12.0
1
0.04
All Through
1
100
0
0
ESC
1
12.50
0
0
Total
80
15.56
4
0.01%
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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.
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The conversion process
1.
Registration
– On line form at:
www.education.gov.uk/academies
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3.
2.
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Triggers DfE contact
Start consultation
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
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Application to convert
– Governors pass resolution approve proposal to convert.
4.
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On line application
Start TUPE - requires separate
consultation
Support for another school
Academy order issued
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Access £25,000
Pre-opening
– Complete odds and ends
– Register with exam boards
– Transfer contracts
– Agree bank balance with
Hertfordshire
The Trust and Company – single
academy trust model.
• An exempt charity. Established by the current GB in
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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.
Members
Directors
(Governors)
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Umbrella trust model
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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.
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Umbrella
Trust
Members
Academy
Trust 1
Members
Academy
Trust 2
Members
Academy
Trust 3
Members
Directors /
Governors
Directors/
Governors
Directors/
Governors
Multi-academy trust model
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£25,000 for Primary schools converting together
For any joint application, one of the member schools must
be ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’
Trust Members
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.
Board of Directors
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
Chief Executive
Principals
the performance of schools in the chain.
Appointed by Directors
Appointed by Directors
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
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Local committee
Local committee
Powers delegated by
Directors
Powers delegated by
Directors
Hertfordshire’s
position and
useful websites
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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.
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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
– Documents available for download including:
Prospects of services
Contact details
This presentation
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The Co-operative College
www.co-op.ac.uk/schools-and-young-people
Tel: 0161 246 2926
Email: schools@co-op.ac.uk
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