Academies

Academies

Academies are publicly funded independent schools in England. 

Academies are set up as charitable companies. They are run by a board of governors who  are also the company directors. They are exempt charities, which means they are not required to register with the Charity Commission.

Schools that become academies will:

• be removed from local authority control;
• have their own board of governors;
• have control of their land, buildings, staffing,curriculum, salaries, etc;
• be free from following the National Curriculum;
• be able to make operational changes, such as changing the length of terms and school days;
• conform to national admissions regulations;
• not have to conform to the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document; and
• be expected to act as a partner to less successful schools.

On opening, academies have two sets of staff until harmonisation is reached – transferred staff from the previous school and new staff recruited to the academy. Transferred staff remain protected by their exiting terms and conditions of employment for a certain amount of time (TUPE: www.voicetheunion.org.uk/tupe) while new staff are immediately subject to the academy’s rules.

Voice’s Policy on academies

Comment on academies

Information sheet: Academies Act 2010: information for members and Voice’s policy

Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations: (TUPE) (What happens to staff when a school becomes an Academy): www.voicetheunion.org.uk/tupe

DfE: Academy status