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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).

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Services

• Apply to open a special or alternative provision free school

  Guidance, assessment criteria and bid forms for local authorities seeking to establish new special or alternative provision free schools.

• Model articles of association for academy trusts

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

• 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

• 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

• Academy and free school funding agreement: multi-academy trust

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

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Guidance and regulation

• Free schools: how to apply

  Guidance

  1 October 2018

  Department for Education

• Multi-academy trusts: establishing and developing your trust

  Guidance

  6 July 2018

  Department for Education

• Making significant changes to an existing academy

  Guidance

  1 March 2016

  Department for Education

• Convert to an academy: guide for schools
  • Manual
  • 9 December 2016
  • Department for Education
• School organisation: local-authority-maintained schools
  • Statutory guidance
  • 8 April 2016
  • Department for Education

See all guidance and regulation

News and communications

4 September 2018 — News story

New free schools to open across England

Department for Education

1. Skills boost for the North as maths school to open in Liverpool
   • 4 July 2018
   • Department for Education
   • News story
2. Interim National Schools Commissioner appointed
   • 12 June 2018
   • Department for Education
   • News story
3. Lord Agnew: By working together we can achieve so much more
   • 31 October 2017
   • Department for Education
   • Speech
4. Horton-in-Ribblesdale Church of England Primary School
   • 28 June 2017
   • Office of the Schools Adjudicator
   • Decision

See all news and communications

Research and statistics

• Academy sponsor profiles
  • 23 May 2014
  • Department for Education
  • Research

See all research and statistics

Policy papers and consultations

• Schools that work for everyone 11 May 2018

  Department for Education

  Consultation outcome

  Date closed 12 December 2016

• The Academy Conversions (Transfer of School Surpluses) Regulations 2013 9 December 2013

  Department for Education

  Consultation outcome

  Date closed 07 November 2013

• 2010 to 2015 government policy: academies and free schools
  • 8 May 2015
  • Department for Education
  • Policy paper
• Academy invests in technology to transform teaching and learning
  • 21 March 2014
  • Department for Education
  • Case study

See all policy papers and consultations

Transparency and freedom of information releases

• New school proposals
  • 12 October 2018
  • Department for Education
  • Transparency
• Lancashire and West Yorkshire Headteacher Board
  • 9 October 2018
  • Schools Commissioners Group
  • Transparency
• Free schools and UTCs: successful applications
  • 4 October 2018
  • Department for Education
  • Transparency
• West Midlands Headteacher Board
  • 27 September 2018
  • Schools Commissioners Group
  • Transparency
• South-West England Headteacher Board
  • 27 September 2018
  • Schools Commissioners Group
  • Transparency

See all transparency and freedom of information releases

Organisations

1. Department for Education
2. Schools Commissioners Group
3. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street
4. Education & Skills Funding Agency
5. Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

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1. Office of the Schools Adjudicator