Transparency data

Glossary of project types

Published 31 March 2026

Applies to England

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Converter academy orders

The governing body of a local authority maintained school has applied to become an academy and wants to:

  • to join an existing academy trust
  • up a new academy trust with other local authority maintained schools

A local authority maintained school is becoming an academy because it has been judged inadequate by Ofsted or is not making the necessary improvements. This means it is currently judged as requires improvement, having been judged below good in its previous inspection.

Establishing a new academy through the free school presumption route

A local authority has identified a need for a new school in its area and invited applications from trusts to be accountable for the new school.

Significant changes to an open academy

A change which may have a ‘significant’ impact on the local school environment. This could be changing the number and/or type of school places and/or where they are offered.

Trust changes

Where an academy is moving from one academy trust to another, including:

  • 2 or more academy trusts coming together and academies within those trust are moving to the new trust
  • a single academy trust applying to become a multi-academy trust (MAT)
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