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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.

• 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

• Model articles of association for academy trusts

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

• Academy and free school funding agreement: single academy trust

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

• 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

  18 July 2018

  Department for Education

• Academy conversion: important dates

  Guidance

  30 July 2018

  Department for Education

• Multi-academy trusts: establishing and developing your trust

  Guidance

  6 July 2018

  Department for Education

• 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
• Academies: information for new openers
  • Detailed guide
  • 3 April 2018
  • Education and Skills Funding Agency

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News and communications

Skills boost for the North as maths school to open in Liverpool

4 July 2018

Department for Education

News story

1. Interim National Schools Commissioner appointed
   • 12 June 2018
   • Department for Education
   • News story
2. Lord Agnew: By working together we can achieve so much more
   • 31 October 2017
   • Department for Education
   • Speech
3. More than 130 new free schools to create more good places
   • 12 April 2017
   • Department for Education
   • Press release
4. New RSC appointed for East Midlands and the Humber
   • 6 March 2017
   • Department for Education
   • Press release

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Policy and engagement

• 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

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Transparency

• New school proposals
  • 16 August 2018
  • Department for Education
  • Transparency
• Open academies and academy projects in development
  • 16 August 2018
  • Department for Education
  • Transparency
• Free schools: open schools and successful applications
  • 14 August 2018
  • Department for Education
  • Transparency
• Lancashire and West Yorkshire Headteacher Board
  • 1 August 2018
  • Schools Commissioners Group
  • Transparency
• West Midlands Headteacher Board
  • 1 August 2018
  • Schools Commissioners Group
  • Transparency

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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