Guidance

Convert to an academy: guidance for sixth-form colleges

Advice and application form for sixth-form colleges considering becoming a 16 to 19 academy.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 19 February 2016
• Last updated: 2 February 2023
  Show all updates

  1. 2 February 2023

     Guidance updated to include information for sixth-form colleges designated as having a religious character as regulations now allow them to convert. Also updated to reference guidance for sixth-form college academy converters with an ESFA contract. New application form added for sixth-form colleges designated as having a religious character.

  2. 3 October 2022

     The guidance and application form have been replaced with updated versions following the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 and 2022 Schools White Paper. The clarity of the guidance has also been improved in response to stakeholder feedback, and terminology and procedural descriptions have been updated to ensure accuracy, including updated links to HMRC VAT guidance and post-Brexit arrangements.

  3. 24 July 2019

     Removed financial assumptions log. Replaced guidance document and application form with updated versions.

  4. 7 February 2017

     Added assumptions log for financial forecast.

  5. 20 January 2017

     Updated guidance with additional information for sixth-form colleges considering becoming a 16-to-19 academy.

  6. 19 October 2016

     Updated guidance and application form.

  7. 11 March 2016

     Updated the guidance document with more appropriate links. Updated the application form with a new diocesan consent contact address and a clearer section on governance.

  8. 19 February 2016

     First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Becoming a 16 to 19 academy: advice for sixth-form colleges

PDF, 229 KB, 18 pages

Sixth-form colleges: form to apply to become an academy

MS Word Document, 118 KB

Proposed 16 to 19 academies with a religious character: application form

MS Word Document, 86.8 KB

Details

This guidance helps sixth-form colleges understand:

• what it means to become an academy
• the application and decision-making process

To apply to become an academy fill in the application form and email it to Enquiries.ESFA@education.gov.uk. Include your letter(s) of consent, initial budget forecast, and any other accompanying documents as required. Copy in your DfE territorial team contact and use ‘SFC academy conversion’ as the email’s subject.

Sixth-form colleges designated as having a religious character also need to:

• complete the application form for a designation order under Section 8A of the Academies Act 2010, and submit this to their DfE academy delivery officer
• liaise with their DfE academy delivery officer to arrange for a separate order to be made under sub-paragraph 5(2) of schedule 12 to the Equality Act 2010, to enable them to lawfully give preference in admissions to those of a particular religion or belief