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Setting up or changing the status of a school

Converting to an academy. Opening a free or studio school, university or independent school. Set up a multi-academy trust (MAT).

Services

  1. Model articles of association for academy trusts

    Template documents with standard articles of association for different types of academy trust.

  2. Independent school registration (England and Wales)

    You must register with the Department for Education or Welsh government if you run an independent school offering full time education

  3. Academy and free school funding agreement: single academy trust

    Model funding agreement for single academy trusts establishing new academies and free schools.

  1. Academy and free school funding agreement: multi-academy trust

    Model funding agreement for multi-academy trusts establishing new academies and free schools.

  2. Apply to become a multi-academy trust

    Application form for single academy trusts wishing to change their governance so they can become a multi-academy trust (MAT).

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Guidance and regulation

  1. Setting up a free school

    Set up a free school - find out what you need to do and how to increase your chance of success

    Answer

  2. Multi-academy trusts: establishing and developing your trust

    Guidance

    Department for Education

  3. Convert to an academy: guide for schools

    Manual

    Department for Education

  1. School organisation: local-authority-maintained schools

    • Statutory guidance
    • Department for Education

  2. Academy conversion: important dates

    • Guidance
    • Department for Education
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News and communications

Sir Theodore Agnew
Lord Agnew: By working together we can achieve so much more

Department for Education

Speech

  1. More than 130 new free schools to create more good places

    • Department for Education
    • Press release

  2. New RSC appointed for East Midlands and the Humber

    • Department for Education
    • Press release

  3. Schools that work for everyone: consultation update

    • Department for Education
    • News story

  4. The role freedom and autonomy has played in school improvement

    • Department for Education
    • Speech
See all news and communications

Policy and engagement

  1. Schools that work for everyone

    Department for Education

    Consultation outcome

    Date closed 12 December 2016

  2. The Academy Conversions (Transfer of School Surpluses) Regulations 2013

    Department for Education

    Consultation outcome

    Date closed 07 November 2013

  1. 2010 to 2015 government policy: academies and free schools

    • Department for Education
    • Policy paper

  2. Academy invests in technology to transform teaching and learning

    • Department for Education
    • Case study
See all policy and engagement

Transparency

  1. Open academies and academy projects in development

    • Department for Education
    • Transparency

  2. Free schools: open schools and successful applications

    • Department for Education
    • Transparency

  3. New school proposals

    • Department for Education
    • Transparency

  4. South-East England and South London Headteacher Board

    • Schools Commissioners Group
    • Transparency

  5. East Midlands and the Humber Headteacher Board

    • Schools Commissioners Group
    • Transparency
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Organisations

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