Department For Education
The guidance on making significant changes to an open academy is for academy trusts wishing to make organisational changes to a school. Those include:
- physical expansion
- merging with another academy
- changing the schools age range
- changing the schools faith designation
The guidance sets out the significant change process and explains which application form to complete. The 2022 versions of the guidance and the application forms on this page are currently in force. The 2024 version of the guidance will come into force in April 2024 and the updated versions of the application forms will be published at that time.
The revised guidance includes a new 3-tier application process. It also sets out pupil place planning roles and a framework for collaborative school place planning. This is useful for:
- local authorities
- academies
- schools
- school governors
- trustees
- dioceses
The guidance on closure of an academy by mutual agreement explains when closure might be an appropriate solution to address standards or viability issues. It:
- sets out the process for closing an academy by mutual agreement with the Secretary of State
- provides guidance about when academy trusts should talk to other parties