Academies

Church Schools will be aware that the Government’s academies agenda is moving quickly. The Education Department and the DBE have set up an academies’ working group which is developing the Diocese’s response.

Issues under active consideration at present are:

• The DBE’s approval process for schools considering academy conversion
• Setting up an umbrella trust
• Considering the options for offering a wider range of educational and support services

This section contains information produced by the Diocese about the academies programme and includes links to other websites where schools can find out more information. The intention is that it will be updated regularly as new information becomes available.

Specific documents available through the website are:
• A presentation (PowerPoint) for governing bodies on academies, including an outline of academy status and issues to consider
• An update on Academies presented at the Heads & Chairs meetings April 2012 (PowerPoint)
• Some schools do not feel that academy status is an immediate priority. See a presentation (PowerPoint) prepared by Esher CoE VA High School for the Surrey Governors' Association Meeting in May 2011.
• A summary of the advice from the National Society for Church Schools and Lee Bolton Monier-Williams (pdf) on issues for schools considering academy conversion

The Department for Education have an academies website. This includes background information, regular updates about the progress of the programme, details about the conversion process and standard documentation for schools undertaking conversion.

The National Society for Church Schools has a dedicated section of their website on academies. They are shaping the Church of England’s response to the academies agenda and are liaising directly with the Department for Education with regard to the particular issues facing church schools. They produce regular updates on the academies programme which deal with the legal, governance, property and Christian ethos issues which are important considerations in any academy conversion.

Lee Bolton Monier-Williams are solicitors to the National Society, as well as to the Diocese of Guildford on education matters. They have a dedicated section on their website for academies which provides updates on all legal issues with regard to academy conversion. They are working on behalf of the Diocesan Directors of Education on issues such as umbrella trusts.

Chester Diocese has produced a useful document for schools considering academy status looking at the positives and negatives.

For further information at this stage, please contact:
Derek Holbird or Michael Hall