Academy conversion

1
Academy conversion

• Nov 2011
• National Governors Association
• www.nga.org.uk
• governorhq_at_nga.org.ukl

2
Who are we?

• A membership organisation representing the school
  governors (from both maintained schools
  Academies) in England at national level
• NGA aims to improve the effectiveness of
  governing bodies by providing expert and tailored
  information, advice and training
• We publish a QA for our members on academy
  conversion
• We do not advise governing bodies whether to
  convert you must do what it in the best
  interests of your children young people

3
Academies What are they?

• Independent state schools
• Answerable to the Secretary of State
• Exempt Charities
• Companies Limited by Guarantee
• Governed by Academy Trust, usually with most
  duties delegated to a Governing Body

4
Who can become an academy?

• All maintained schools
• Schools performing well do not require sponsors
• Free Schools
• Secretary of State can decide if the school is
  eligible for intervention
• Otherwise it is the governing bodys decision

5
What is high performing?

• The schools three year exam trajectory
• Comparison with local and national exam
  performance
• Latest Ofsted report with a focus on capacity to
  improve, outcomes and leadership and management
• Any other evidence the school may rely on to
  demonstrate that its performing well.

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What is the process for conversion?

• The NGA recommends the following process
• GB takes an initial decision to consider academy
  status
• Register an interest with DfE
• Working group to gather all the information
• Single issue GB meeting
• Consult stakeholders .... and after consultation
• GB to take formal decision whether or not to
  apply
• Legal Advice
• the formal legal process towards conversion will
  now start

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CONSULTATION

• NGA lobbied for consultation to be included in
  Act
• Academies Act requires GBs to consult relevant
  partners before signing funding agreement, but
  not before Academy Order
• But NGA recommends that GBs consult before they
  apply
• Parents, staff, pupils, local authority, other
  schools
• Specific rules for schools with Foundation Bodies
• TUPE

8
Issues to consider

• Will academy status improve teaching and
  learning?
• Do we need to convert in order to achieve what we
  want to achieve for children?
• What would we do with the freedoms?
• Are we ready for the additional responsibility?

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Financial considerations

• Equivalent funding
• Additional money is for additional
  responsibilities what will they cost?
• Do you have staffing capacity skills to carry
  out additional responsibilities
• Funding on academic year basis
• Funding can go up or down in future years
• Ready reckoner

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Services to be procured

• Central staff costs, including pensions,
  maternity cover, redundancy, early retirement
• SEN support behaviour support services
• Education Welfare Service
• Licences and Subscriptions
• School meals kitchen FSM assessment
• Music, visual and performing arts services
• Outdoor education services
• Asset management costs
• School improvement services etc see DfE website

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Freedoms

• Freedom from local authority control
• Freedom from following the National Curriculum
• Ability to set your own pay and conditions
• Ability to change the lengths of terms and school
  days

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GOVERNANCE

• The Governing Body of the maintained school makes
  the decision to convert
• Articles of Association
• Academy Trust set up and sign funding agreement
  with Secretary of State
• The Governing Body of the maintained school will
  cease to exist on conversion
• Academy Trust delegates functions to the new
  Governing Body
• Directors of the Company limited by guarantee

13
GOVERNANCE the Trust

• Articles of Association (AoA) negotiate
• Members of the Trust will be set out
• No less than 3 signatories to the memo of
  association
• The Chair of governors
• Optionally, up to x members appointed by relevant
  body eg Foundation
• A person appointed by the Secretary of State if
  he wishes
• Any person appointed unanimously by the other
  members
• NGA advice is 3 is too few members
• Who appoints who accountability
• Academy Trust members sign funding agreement with
  SoS other contracts

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New governing Body

• In converter academies
• At least 3 governors but no maximum size
• A number appointed by the Trust
• Principal (Headteacher) Ex Officio
• Staff governors (if agreed up to one third)
• Parent governors (minimum 2 elected)
• LA governor (if agreed one, LA appoints)
• Co-opted governors (up to 3)

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GOVERNANCE the GB

• Academy Trust delegates functions to the
  Governing Body (but see multi models)
• DfE describes the GBs key responsibilities as
• Ensuring the quality of education provision
• Challenging and monitoring the academys
  performance
• Managing the Trusts finances property
• Employing staff
• Practice of governing is similar to maintained
  schools

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Working with others

• Supporting a less successful school
• Going as a group with a partnership agreement
  informal formal
• A multi-academy various models
• All through academies
• Chains brands
• Federating several schools with a single
  governing body

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In summary

• Is this the most important thing you need to be
  doing now to raise attainment?
• No need to rush no deadline now (was bonus for
  those who converted by 31 August)
• Do your homework
• list all the services you will need to procure
  and consider if you have the capacity
• Consider the model funding agreement AoA
• Consult early
• Talk to other schools

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Join us

• Standard NGA membership for a school GB is 63
  and you receive
• weekly e-newsletter for all governors,
• five copies of the bi-monthly 40 page NGA
  members magazine Governing Matters,
• access to the members area of the website,
• a free place at NGA member regional events and
  national conferences.
• GOLD membership is 250 and includes access to
  legal advice