Guidance

Academies: making significant changes or closure by agreement

Guidance for academy trusts planning to make organisational changes or close an academy by mutual agreement with the Secretary of State.

From:
Department for Education
Published
4 September 2013
Last updated
3013 JanuaryFebruary 20232024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Making significant changes to an open academy

PDF, 439 KB, 37 pages

Making significant changes to an open academy (from April 2024)

PDF, 382 KB, 40 pages

Significant changes: full business case application form

ODS, 454 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

Significant changes: fast track application form

ODS, 424 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

Academy

Closure closureof an academy by mutual agreement

PDF, 220219 KB, 21 pages

Details

TheseThe guidance documentson andmaking forms are for academy trusts.

Making significant changes to an open academy guidance is for academy trusts wishing to make organisational changes to theira school. ChangesThose include:

  • physical expansion
  • merging with another academy
  • changing the school’s age range
  • changing the school’s faith designation

The guidance sets out the processsignificant trustschange needprocess to follow, 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 formsrevised toguidance requestincludes a significantnew change3-tier areapplication availableprocess. inIt OpenDocumentalso formatsets out pupil place planning roles and ina Word.framework for collaborative school place planning. This is useful for:

  • local authorities
  • academies
  • schools
  • school governors
  • trustees
  • dioceses

ClosureThe guidance on closure of an academy by mutual agreement guidance explains when the closure of an academy might be an appropriate solution to address standards or viability issues. It:

  • sets out processesthe process for closing an academy by mutual agreement with the Secretary of State
  • provides guidance asabout to when academy trusts should talk to other parties
Published 4 September 2013
Last updated 3013 JanuaryFebruary 20232024 + show all updates

  1. Added new 'Making significant changes to an academy' guidance, applicable from April 2024.

  2. Updated 'Closure of an academy by mutual agreement’ to remove outdated references and expand guidance on the closure of special educational provision.

  3. We have made 'Making significant changes to an open academy and closure by mutual agreement' easier to use by putting it into 2 separate documents: 'Closure of an academy by mutual agreement' and 'Making significant changes to an open academy'. 'Making significant changes to an open academy' has been updated for January 2022.

  4. Updated the 'Full business case application form' and the 'Fast track application form'.

  5. Updated 'Making significant changes to an open academy and closure by mutual agreement' document.

  6. Updated page title and summary.

  7. New version of 'Making significant changes to an open academy and closure by mutual agreement' added along with updated fast track and full business case application forms.

  8. Updated information on fast track and business case applications, new school places, and the roles of regional schools commissioners and headteacher boards.

  9. A revised 'Preparing a business case for a significant change at an existing academy' advice document and a business case guide document have been added to this page.