insideKENT Magazine Issue 75 - June 2018 | Page 171
BUSINESS
ACADEMIES:
FULL STEAM
AHEAD!
BY MICHELLE WILKES, PARTNER AT WILKINS KENNEDY ORPINGTON
AT THE END OF APRIL, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF WILKINS KENNEDY’S ACADEMIES
TEAM HEADED TO LONDON FOR THE ACADEMIES SHOW 2018. FOLLOWING
A FEW YEARS OF GOVERNMENT CHANGES IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR, AS
WELL AS A FEW U-TURNS ON SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS RELATING TO ACADEMY
CONVERSION, IT’S PROVING TO BE A CONFUSING TIME. AT THE ACADEMIES
SHOW, WE WERE FACED WITH A NUMBER OF QUERIES, FROM JOINING A MULTI
ACADEMY TRUST TO PUPIL PREMIUMS – SO IT SEEMS MORE CLARITY IS NEEDED
FOR THOSE WORKING IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR.
REGIONAL TRENDS
Kent was one of the first counties to push for
more schools to convert to academy status.
In fact, the first primary school to convert in
January 2011 was based in Kent and ever since
then we have noticed a growing number of
schools choosing to convert.
For those schools that are considering
converting to an academy there are a few
things to think about. Should you form part
of a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) or join an
existing MAT? How would converting to an
academy affect operations, finances and
overall school performance?
DISPELLING THE MYTHS
Some schools may feel that the academies
conversion process is only for schools that are
poorly performing, but this is simply not true.
Since the Academies Act came into force in
2010, it has been those that are rated
Outstanding that have been allowed to convert
initially, before it was expanded to become
available to all.
WHAT IS A MAT?
Many schools opt to remain as a single or
individual academy, but you can also be part
of a Multi Academy Trust (MAT). This is where
a single trust looks after a number of
academies simultaneously, as the benefits can
allow for sharing best practice, the
implementation of centralised services if
necessary, more flexible staffing resources
and the opportunity to establish succession
planning programmes.
Wilkins Kennedy’s academies offering is
headed up by our Orpington office – but is a
service sector that stretches across all of our
offices around London and the South East. As
well as Orpington, you can find us in Ashford,
Canterbury and Maidstone.
If you have any queries relating to your
school, academy or UTC, contact me at
Wilkins Kennedy.
Local offices:
Ashford: 01233 629 255 / Canterbury: 01227 454 861
Maidstone: 01622 690 666 / Orpington: 01689 827 505
Sandwich: 01304 249 997
[email protected]
www.wilkinskennedy.com
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