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Academy Schools

Academy Schools. Briefing Sessions for Headteachers and Governors September 2010. What are Academy Schools?. State-funded independent schools Outside of local authority control Set their own ‘broad and balanced curriculum’ Employ their own staff and can set pay and conditions

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Academy Schools

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  1. Academy Schools • Briefing Sessions for Headteachers and Governors • September 2010

  2. What are Academy Schools? • State-funded independent schools • Outside of local authority control • Set their own ‘broad and balanced curriculum’ • Employ their own staff and can set pay and conditions • Have control over their land and buildings • Are responsible for additional duties and tasks that would previously have been undertaken by the LA

  3. Academies Act 2010 • Allows maintained schools to apply to become Academies • Allows primary and special schools to become Academies in their own right • Enables the Secretary of State to require schools eligible for intervention to convert to Academies • Removes the requirement to consult the local authority • Ensures a converting school can continue to occupy the land and buildings it had as a maintained school

  4. Governance of Academy Schools • The Academy Trust • A charitable company limited by guarantee • Has control over the land and assets • Enters into a funding agreement with the Secretary of State • Has strategic responsibility for the running of the Academy • The Governing Body • Directors or trustees of the Academy Trust • Manages the Academy on behalf of the Academy Trust

  5. Role and responsibilities of the Governing Body • Ensure the quality of educational provision • Challenge and monitor the performance of the Academy • Manage the Academy Trust’s finances and property • Employ staff • Comply with (and ensure the Trust complies with) charity and company law • Manage and comply with the obligations in the Funding Agreement

  6. Increased responsibilities for Governing Bodies • Governors/trustees/directors of a company – legal complexities • Direct accountability to the Secretary of State and no LA ‘buffer’ • Litigation • Increased time allocation? • Role of the Headteacher? • Responsibilities for processes such as admissions

  7. Academies funding • The funding for academies, the General Annual Grant, (GAG) will include a grant known as the Local Authority Central Spend Equivalent Grant (LACSEG) in lieu of services no longer provided by the authority. • The LACSEG will depend on the level of delegation by the LA and the amount it already holds back to pay for central services • Costs of a local authority's statutory/regulatory duties • Asset management costs • School improvement services • Monitoring national curriculum assessment • Education welfare service • Pupils support (e.g. clothing grants) • Music services • Visual and performing arts services • Outdoor education services • Certain redundancy and early retirement costs. • SEN support services (depends on level of LA delegation) • Behaviour support services • 14-16 practical learning options • School meals (including assessment of eligibility) • Repair and maintenance of kitchens • Museum and library services • Licences and subscriptions • Central staff costs (maternity, long term sickness and trade union duties) • Costs of certain employment terminations.

  8. Academies funding • The local authority will retain funding and • responsibility for: • Home to school transport (including SEN) • Education psychology, SEN statements and assessment (legal duty) • Prosecution of parents for non-attendance • SEN resources for pupils needing tailored provision • Short Stay Schools or the like for pupils no longer registered at an academy

  9. National Audit Office Academies Programme • Department should state the objectives of its Academy Programme, and how it will measure success • There should berobust governance and accountability on finance and processes for monitoring standards of governance. • Administering funding agreements individually will become more challenging as the Programme expands. • Academies are required to provide a range of financial monitoring data, including annual accounts, funding schedules and supplementary detailed income and expenditure returns

  10. Big issues to cover before academy incorporation • Governors clarity about liabilities • Different if Foundation, Voluntary or Community • Land and property transfer • Staff transfer • Service agreements to contracts • Insurances

  11. Briefing for Schools • School Organisation • Governance • School Improvement • Admissions • Finance • Employment Matters • Buildings and Capital • Health, Safety and Wellbeing • Management Information Systems • Pensions • Legal support www.cornwall.gov.uk/academies

  12. Future issues – September Guidance and other months • SEND including specialist provision in schools • Land and property transfer guidance • Insurances • Safeguarding inc Health & Safety issues • LA - Services to schools offer and charging • Grants e.g. Standards Fund, Area Based Grant, Sure Start, Extended Services • Attendance at LA meetings and statutory bodies e.g. Schools Forum

  13. Cornwall CouncilCounty HallTruro TR1 3AYTel: 0300 1234 100www.cornwall.gov.uk

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