Academies: The Conversion Process

If you are a Headteacher or a Governor of a school and need to understand the academy conversion process we can help.

As you may already know, there is a wealth of information out there (especially on the Department for Education website: www.dfe.gov.uk) but sometimes you can’t beat face to face advice.  If you appoint us, we cover the legal work needed to convert to an academy and the legal implications of doing so.

The conversion process is, broadly, as follows:

Academy Conversion: Stage 1

School registers an interest in becoming an academy.  In connection with this:

• a resolution is passed to convert to academy status
• the school starts to collate all contractual and land documents in anticipation of the transfer
• the school consults with additional/supported schools and other interested parties
• staff/TUPE consultation starts as soon as possible (but not before any resolution to convert)
• the school is allocated a named DfE contact.

Academy Conversion: Stage 2

Application to convert to academy status is lodged with the DfE

Academy Conversion: Stage 3

Academy Order made by the Secretary of State.  This may release funding to the school to be put towards the costs of conversion.

Academy Conversion: Stage 4

Conversion work begins in earnest, for example:

• the Academy Trust is created
• consultations are completed
• arrangements with predecessor school/Local Authority/third parties are finalised
• the Transfer Agreement is finalised
• the Funding Agreements are finalised
• the Report on Title is prepared
• any Shared Facilities Agreements are finalised
• bank account is set up
• insurances are dealt with

Academy Conversion: Stage 5

Enter into academy arrangements:

• completion of the Funding Agreements creates the new academy
• academy is registered with the relevant bodies and CRB checks are undertaken
• deal with other legal requirements (such as data protection issues)

Academy Opens!

Further administrative work and legal work may be required to help manage and support the evolution of the Academy.

How long does an academy conversion take?

Some of the above stages can be done at the same time.  The conversion process takes around three to four months.

Academy Conversion fixed fees

We do academy conversion work on a fixed fee basis.