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Our team has extensive national experience supporting academy group projects. Indeed, over half of the conversion projects we have worked on have involved the creation of, or adding academies to, academy groups. Projects have included multi-academy trusts (MATs), umbrella trusts (UTs) and collaborative partnerships covering single phase groups, multi-phase groups, mixed MATs (church and non-church academies), Roman Catholic groups and Church of England groups.
We have created numerous innovative group structures using the MAT and UT formats together to overcome local difficulties. The academy projects we have advised on have emanated from 111 different maintaining local authorities, giving us exceptional experience of dealing with different local authority and Diocesan approaches.
You may currently be a multi-academy trust or sponsor who is an experienced education organisation with a strong track record in academy conversions. You might, equally, currently be a maintained school or single academy looking to set up a multi-academy trust or start your expansion programme.
Whatever your size, we know you need your legal partner to be commercial and efficient in providing academy sponsorship and conversion support, to strict timeframes and without unnecessary complications.
Supporting an existing multi-academy trust selected by the DfE to step in and support a number of failing academies. Our advice and support was required at short notice which often meant attending Board meetings to provide timely advice in order to effectively support the MAT to deliver the project in difficult circumstances and a tight time-frame.
Trusted legal advisors for a big multi-academy trust on over 20 of its academy projects, including fast track and fully sponsored, PFI conversions, a special free school, a mainstream free school and the establishment of a brand new academy led by a local authority.
Supporting a secondary academy wanting to become an approved sponsor and adopt multi-academy status. Working with the academy we helped them understand the DfE’s requirements in order to write a successful business case. We worked with the leadership team and governing body to explore their future aspirations to design a suitable governance structure and help them implement a MAT that was suitable for their future strategic vision.
Supporting four secondary schools wishing to adopt academy status within a multi-academy trust. We worked with the leadership teams and governors to help them understand the process, DfE requirements and design a MAT that met their local circumstances.
Browne Jacobson's skilled and experienced staff put us at ease, and guided us through each stage with clear direction and understanding. They supported us as a school and as an umbrella trust; enabling our staff to work together and manage the complex change with confidence.
Browne Jacobson have proactively managed the formation of our MAT. When required, they have responded positively to our requests and have been agile to changing circumstances.
"Browne Jacobson have taken the time to understand our needs and preferred approach," one impressed client remarks, adding: "They are always accessible and we’ve never had to wait for a response, email or return call."
They are effective, efficient and user-friendly.
A client commends the team's "diligence, proactiveness and determination to get the job done."
"The team is reliable and extremely responsive," remarks one client, who adds: "They are the best in the business and their reputation is well deserved."
I feel like there's some magic going on behind the scenes that makes everything fall into place. They have a tremendous scope of expertise.
A client adds: 'The firm is a very efficient and effective organisation, and I often hear other colleagues around the country reflecting on the high quality of their work, guidance and support.'
In the intervening years we have seen the actual number of schools converting to academy status over the past few years has gone up and down in a succession of waves.
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A joint guidance paper written in collaboration between Browne Jacobson and the National Governance Association (NGA) on academy mergers within the education sector has been released today.
In this edition we provide you with the latest in legal updates, news and insight from the sector.
Our client, Yew Tree Primary School, challenged the Secretary of State for Education’s (SSE) decision not to revoke a directive Academy Order.
We are increasingly asked are there any limits on how members can exercise their powers.
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The Government has accepted calls from sixth form colleges to reopen the option to become academies.
For some time the Academies Financial Handbook has restricted Academy Trusts in how much they could pay for goods or services purchased from a 'related party' i.e. a person or organisation closely linked to the Academy Trust.
The DfE’s approach to school improvement since the Academy Act 2010 came into force has been very intervention heavy – first with a significant increase in academy sponsorship, followed more recently by the rebrokering or transferring of academies between trusts.
If you are thinking of academy conversion and becoming an independently managed, publicly funded school then make sure you use leading education sector lawyers to make your academy conversion a smooth and straightforward process.
Quickcall is our fixed fee annual support service provides you with immediate access to specialist advice when you need it most.
Browne Jacobson provides a range of HR Services for schools and academies tailored specifically to the needs of your school.
Whilst schools will be familiar with the traditional governor compliance issues, they may need support.
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