Academy conversion consultation (FAQ)

- What about governance?

Academies have a small group of trustees who are a small group of governors that take on the legal role of coordination of the educational charitable company set up to run the academy. The trustees are responsible for determining the governance of the school through a written constitution.

- What about school transport?

School transport is one of the services that the Local Authority is required to continue to provide in the same way that it does now. This will not change as a result of becoming an academy.

- Will the timings of the school day change?

There is no intention to alter the school day as a result of becoming an Academy. Schools are free to alter their school day as it is anyway.

- How will provision for students with Special Needs be provided?

Some of the LA services will still be provided and they will be funded by central government. For example, educational psychology support will remain. The LA will retain the responsibility (and funding) for ensuring that students' statements of special educational needs are met.

- Will there be a change to the admission policy?

When a school becomes an academy, the academy trust will become the admission authority. For community schools, like North Axholme, the academy will need to manage its own admissions process. This will involve periodic consultation, and regularly publishing the academy's admission arrangements. Governors do not intend to alter the existing admissions policy. The school will remain fully comprehensive and there is no question of selection.

- Will the School uniform change?

There are no plans to change the School uniform as a result of becoming an Academy.Governors are very aware of the cost to parents/carers of major changes.

- What will happen to the schools Media Arts specialism?

The School will continue to use our specialism in terms of staff expertise and top class learning resources and equipment to enhance the learning of all students.

- Will the school name change?

The full title of the School is currently 'North Axholme School - A Specialist Media Arts College'. Governors will decide whether to maintain this name, revert to North Axholme School or consider North Axholme Academy. Your views on this are welcome.

- What about the employment rights of staff?

The employment rights of all members of staff will be protected by TUPE, [Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment)] regulations which came into force in 2006. This means that these employment rights will transfer to the Academy Trust under the same terms and conditions of employment. Pension rights and continuity of service record will be preserved. Moreover, the governing body intends that the terms and conditions for all existing staff remain at least as good as those for staff in equivalent posts in schools which are still bound by national and local agreements. These are just a few questions that have already been asked of many schools that have become academies. Please do take the opportunity to give the governing body your views and ask any questions that you feel are relevant as described above. A great deal of further information on Academies can be found on the DfE website at http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies

- How will new curriculum freedoms be used?

Academies have greater freedom to set the curriculum beyond the core areas of the national curriculum. At North Axholme School we already provide a broad, balanced and innovative curriculum and so this freedom would not be revolutionary.

- How will the school be funded?

Academies receive their funding direct from the government. It is the same per student funding as now. However, the amount that is currently retained, by the LA to pay for a range of central services is passed directly to the Academy. It is then up to the Academy to decide which services to purchase either from the LA or other sources. Many schools that have already converted have reported that they have made significant savings through having the ability to make their own decisions on how and where to spend this additional funding for the benefit of their students. The DfE calculate that the additional sum that North Axholme would receive would be in the region of £186000 per annum.