Month 3
Month 4
The Key for School Leaders An Essential Guide to Academy Conversion
TRANSFERRING RESPONSIBILITY
Month 3
• Hold TUPE meeting early in the month – invite union representatives . Provide :
• Written information to the school employee reps about the transfer of staff
• Employee liability information to the new academy trust
• TUPE transfer statements to be signed and returned by all staff and forwarded to the LA
• Payroll / pension arrangements – gather information required ( bank details etc .)
• TUPE information to be complete for CTA
• Hold Q & A sessions with parents ( drop-ins ?)
• Consider overall marketing – brand , website ( any updates / improvements needed ?), communications channels
• Update grant spending spreadsheet
• If joining an existing MAT , confirm bank account details of lead school – submit bank details to EFA
• Send information / documentation to regional lead at DfE – name of accounting officer , Ofsted report , funding agreement
• Send company registration number to HMRC
• Send BACs bureau number to payroll
• Receive draft of financial procedures / terms of reference etc .
• Consider future training / support needs when relicensing – build in to SLAs where appropriate
• Clarify and approve insurance cover / RPA ( if opted for this ) by working party , mid-month – consider factors including staff working in other schools , trips , sickness
• School meals – if you contract out provision , email your provider mid-month to agree future payment terms
• Hold early introductory meeting between accountants and trustees
Month 4
• Arrange last meeting of full governing body to approve documents , and first meeting of academy trust board to receive documents ( hold at end of month )
• Consider how much should be kept in academy reserves ( 1-2 months ’ expenditure is recommended ). Agree a reserves policy and investment policy with MAT trustees
• Utilities – where relevant , procure new contracts and take meter readings – look at LA framework options ( check whether you ’ re tied into any frameworks until they are up for review by the LA )
• Policies – working party to approve delegation to headteacher
• School meals SLA – check equipment removed from SLA
• Pensions – set up meeting with provider
• Continued from month 3 : open bank account – send bank details to EFA ; send copies of accounting officer , Ofsted report , funding agreement to regional lead at DfE ; send company registration number to HMRC , and BACs bureau number to payroll
• Asset register – update and do valuation for balance sheet
• Set up new email accounts and begin redirecting
• Admissions – speak to LA about timelines and schedule in for board approval in the term after conversion ( think about this now so it is ready for the following academic year )
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