We believe that academies are the best way for children to get an
excellent education, which is why 80% of secondary schools in
England are now academies.
Many previously underperforming schools have been
transformed by academy status.
Find out more about what academies are and what they mean for
your child.
What are academy schools?
Academies are state-funded schools. However, unlike other
state-funded schools, they’re independent from local authorities,
meaning that they aren’t overseen by councils. As a result, they
have more freedom in how the school is run.
Pupils in academies study the same core subjects and do the same
exams as those in any other school, but unlike schools managed by
the local authority, academies can choose to adapt the
curriculum, term dates and school hours to help children learn.
Academies also have the power to decide how to spend their money
on things like teacher salaries and classroom equipment.
Some academies used to be council-run schools and others are
brand new schools known as ‘free schools’ which are
established to create more school places in a local area.
Any type of school can be an academy, including primary schools,
collegesand special
schools.
What is a multi academy trust (MAT) and what are the
benefits?
All academies are run by trusts. These can be multi academy
trusts (MATs) – which run several academies – or single academy
trusts that run just one. All trusts are charities and so aren’t
run for financial profit.
MATs are networks of schools which work to support each other and
raise standards. For example, a school that is not performing
well could benefit from being in a trust with a better performing
school, allowing them to share resources and knowledge.
By working in partnership with each other, the schools within a
trust can share staff, curriculum expertise and good teaching
practices. This helps schools provide the best possible education
for pupils.
Joining a multi academy trust is a positive choice for schools.
They help develop strong school leaders and great teachers,
allowing schools to focus on the teaching and finding a
curriculum that is based on what really works.
Can schools be forced to be an academy?
Around 73% of academy schools have voluntarily chosen to become
an academy.
However, the law requires schools which have received an
‘Inadequate’ rating from Ofsted to become academies. Schools
which have received two or more consecutive ratings below ‘Good’
may also be converted into academies.
For schools in this position, the Secretary of State for
Education will send the school something called an ‘academy
order’, which will start the process for the school to become an
academy.
In these circumstances, schools will be transferred to a trust
with a strong track record of ensuring pupils receive the highest
standard of education.
We believe that joining a MAT is the best way to support schools
to provide the best education possible, transforming outcomes for
pupils.
Schools transferring to academy status will be supported by a
project-lead to guide them through the process.
What happens if an academy is underperforming?
If an academy has been rated as ‘Inadequate’ by Ofsted or less
than ‘Good’ in two consecutive inspections, a Regional Director
who acts as a representative for the Department for Education in
their local area, can decide to transfer the school to a
different MAT. This is to make sure the school is getting the
support it needs.
To begin this process, the school’s current trust will receive
what is known as a ‘Termination Warning Notice’, which sets out
the Regional Director’s concerns and gives the trust the
opportunity to respond.
If the Regional Director is not convinced the trust is able to
improve the school, they will go ahead and transfer the school to
a different trust to make sure of the best outcome for pupils.
