13 4. Academisation frequently asked questions and answers a. What is an Academy? An academy is a government funded school that is independent to the Local Authority. Whilst academy status gives schools additional responsibilities and greater freedoms, in terms of the day to day functioning an academy will not be noticeably different for parents/the community compared to a Local Authority maintained school. Responsibility for funding an academy, monitoring performance and any capital projects will fall to central government rather to local government, although in reality this will be via an Academy Trust. If the decision is made to transfer to become an academy, the school and governing body will join an academy trust, which is a charitable company. No one can make any money from the company. The company is limited by guarantee. It does not pay dividends and makes no profit. b. How much work is it to become an academy within an established Trust? The conversion process is managed by the ODBST team to enable the school to remain focused on the day to day running of their school. However, it helps if there is a standing Governing Body working group who can be involved in the statutory consultation. The school bursar and Headteacher will also need to be around in the run up to key dates identified by the DfE to ensure the various documents are signed and submitted in time. c. What does the conversion process involve? After you as a governing body have expressed an interest, and made the final decision to join the ODBST, you will need to register your request to join us, which will also need to be sent to the Diocese for approval. An application to the DfE for an Academy Order can be made at any stage of the process and does not commit you to becoming an academy within the ODBST, but usefully it releases Academy Support Grant funding that covers the costs of conversion (legal, new IT systems, and related set up costs) before works turn to detailed legal processes. You must complete a statutory consultation with interested parties before the funding agreement is signed, which is one of the final parts in the process. Key steps: 1. The Governing Body formally agrees to consult on becoming an academy and within which MAT 2. Obtain the Secretary of State’s initial consent by securing an “Academy Order” 3. Carry out the necessary consultation and decide to proceed 4. Agree a supplementary funding agreement with the DfE and the MAT 5. Ensure that the school site is made available to the MAT via leases and/or supplemental agreements 6. Ensure that financial systems are in place to manage funding 7. Transfer, renew or procure new contracts, service level agreements and licenses, and purchase insurance as appropriate 8. Transfer under TUPE all contract arrangements for staff. This is a formal legal consultation process which is separate from the consultation with all stakeholders. This would not start until after the vote by the Governing Body to apply for academy status
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