The Department for Education has announced that from today all schools may apply to become stand-alone academies.
Up to now, only schools which Ofsted had deemed Outstanding or Good with Outstanding Features had been allowed to apply to convert on their own. Previously, schools without these ratings could only apply as part of a wider group of schools, so linking up with other, stronger schools.
However, the DfE has opened up applications and will now consider applications to convert from any school, including special schools, provided the school can show that they should be allowed to convert to Academy status. This does mean that for other schools, they will need to put together a compelling case to prove this, and the DfE has said that in considering a school they will:
- Look at the school’s exam performance over the last three years;
- Compare the school’s exam performance with local and national performances;
- Look at the latest Ofsted reports with a specific focus on ‘capacity to improve’, ‘outcomes’, and ‘leadership and management’;
- In respect of special schools, also look at other successes achieved in supporting the learning of pupils with special educational needs;
- Consider any other matters that the school may rely on in order to demonstrate that the school is performing well.
Many schools are now actively looking to convert to Academy status and Birkett Long is able to assist schools with their conversion and to advise on all of the key legal issues, giving individual attention to what schools need.
For more information on this, please go to our Academies page or contact Emily Brown on 01206 217 317 or by email at emily.brown@birkettlong.co.uk
