AGNorth_AcademyConverterPresentation

Becoming an academy

Academies Group North

Presentation contents

•What is an academy and why should yourschool become one

•Conversion process and available funding

•Governance structures and accountability

•Available support before and duringconversion

•Next steps and timescales

Regional Schools Commissioner

(RSC) for the North, Jan Renou

Powers delegated from Secretary of State.

Responsible for:

•Tackling underperformance in open academies

(inc. free schools, UTCs and studio schools).

•Taking decisions about new academies, inc. schools

that are required to become sponsored academies.

•Managing the regional sponsor market foracademies.

Supported in her decision making by a Head

Teacher Board of successful academy heads

from across the North region.

What is an academy?

•Academies are state-funded independent schools accountable tothe Secretary of State

•Funding comes directly from central government

•Some schools convert to academy status

•Other schools become sponsored academies

•Academies are run by an Academy Trust

Demand for academy status continues tobe high

As of 1 December 2015 in England there are:

5,065 open academies 3,518 converters 1,547 sponsored

Of all open academies there are:

2,867 primary 1,992 secondary 161 special  45 AP

There are:

304 free schools 40 studio schools 39 UTCs

Grand total to date 5,448

65% of all secondary schools &

18% of all primary schools

are open academies

All schools can potentially becomeacademies

Schools that are‘performing well’

Can convert with anexisting Multi-AcademyTrust (MAT) or create ownMAT with other schools

Schools that are not‘performing well’ butare above ‘the floor’

Can convert in aMAT with strongschool/s

Schools that arebelow the ‘floor’and notperforming well

Can convert in a strongMAT or with a sponsorMAT (depends oncircs)

‘performing well’ isdetermined by:Ofsted rating; examresults; comparisonto similar schools

Schools are below‘the floor’ if bothexam results andpupil progression isbelow a certain level.

•Academies are state-funded independent schools that give heads andteachers greater freedoms and flexibilities:

the ability to set their own pay and conditions for staff

greater control of their budget

freedom to change the length of terms and school days

freedom to spend the money the local authority currently spendson their behalf - and control over where it is targeted

greater autonomy - academies define their relationship with theirlocal authorities.

Benefits of academy status

Benefits of being in amulti-academy trust (MAT)

Economies of scale – pooled/shared finances, more flexibility to respond toneeds

Shared services – centralised HR, admin, legal advice, property

Broader curriculum offer – skills & resources between sites, enrichment

Opportunities for staff movement – CPD, sharing and developing skills andexperience

Career development opportunities

Succession planning

Academy 1Localgoverningbody

Academy 3Localgoverningbody

Academy 2Localgoverningbody

The Multi-Academy Trust(MAT)

The MAT is one legalentity, accountable forall schools within thechain

Members (5) *think shareholders ofa company

Trustees**(6-12) have day today responsibility for the runningof the trust **think company directors

The MAT has aMaster FundingAgreement withthe Secretary ofState

Each academy inthe MAT has its ownSupplementalFunding Agreement

Who are the Members and Trustees?

Board of Trustees (small strategicgroup)

•Company Directors/CharitableTrustees

•Appointed by MembersResponsible for:

•The day to day running of thetrust

•Ensuring compliance

•Funding Agreement with theSecretary of State

Members (5)

•Agree the Articles of Associationwhich defines how the trust willrun

•Appoint/remove Trustees

•Reviews company accounts

•Hold the Board of Trustees toaccount

Trust structure is a matter for you to decide, within certain parameters. For example,no more than 19.9% of Members can be ‘LA influenced’ and no more than 20% atTrustee level. The headteacher or any other Academy Trust employees must not be amember (DfE policy, good governance, but not the law). The Articles of Associationdetail the requirements.

Accountability

MATs must conduct their academies within the terms and requirementsof:

–the Articles of Association;

–any legislation or legal requirement that applies to academies, includingthe Independent School Standards and legislation about meeting theneeds of pupils with SEN and disabilities;

–the Academies Financial Handbook; and

–the Master Funding Agreement and each academy’s supplementalfunding/land agreements.

Staffing

•On conversion all staff TUPE over

on their current terms and conditions

•Must offer access to national pension

schemes to staff

•Academies can set a pay and reward

structure that best meets their needs

but any changes (“measures”) must beconsulted on

Available Funding

•A £25k conversion grant for each school to help cover the cost ofconverting to Academy status.

•Sponsored academies may attract additional funding – this will be agreedon a case by case basis by the RSC.

•Small school supplement (SSS) fundingSmall School Supplement funding is available for small primary schools(<210 pupils) joining an existing multi-academy trust (MAT). Primaries with100 pupils or less are eligible to apply for £5k and those with between 100and 210 pupils are eligible to apply for £2k. The supplement is intended toprovide additional support to the schools in meeting expenses associatedwith the conversion process.

•more…

Primary Academy ChainsDevelopment Grant

•Aims to help clusters of primaries to convert.

•Available until 31 March 2016.

•Additional £75k for applications where 3 schools are forming a new multi-academy trust (MAT) where the majority are primaries (but not sponsor-led).

•Up to £5k awarded per additional primary school (up to maximum £100kper chain).

•Stand-alone open academies and schools converting intoacademies; provided they are setting up a minimum 3 school MAT withat least 2 primaries applying to convert (not including a sponsoredschool).

•Existing MATs are NOT eligible for the £75k grant. However, groupsof 2 or more primary schools joining an existing MAT, can apply for aone-off grant of £20,000 per primary school (up to a maximum of £80K)provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

Capital funding from EFACondition Improvement Fund

•Additional capital funding that academies and SFCs can apply for eachyear. Highly oversubscribed.

•Eligibility:

•open academies

•schools with Academy Orders approved e.g. by 1 November 2015 with a FA dueto be signed by 31 March 2016

•2 projects per academy

•Primary/special – £20k-£4m per project

•Secondary/all-through/SFC - £50k-£4m per project

•Cheaper projects funded from revenue or DFC

•Prioritises keeping buildings safe & in good working order.

•Addresses issues with significant consequences that revenue and DFCcannot meet (85% of availability):

•Poor building conditions; building compliance; energy efficiency; health & safety

•Can also support expansion projects (15% of availability) for Good andOutstanding academies to expand facilities/floor space to increaseadmissions or address overcrowding.