Academies and free schools

Introduction to academy schools

An academy is a school for pupils of compulsory school age (with or without the addition of a subsidiary nursery or sixth-form). Academies are state schools funded almost wholly through a funding agreement made between the sponsors or promoters of the academy and the Secretary of State for Education. In the academic year 2010–2011 there were just over 400 academies in England and now, by 2014, there are over 4000.

There are no academies in Wales. Although section 18(1) of the Academies Act 2010 (AcA 2010) does apply in Wales, the provisions for the creation and funding of new academies apply only in England.

Academies were founded originally under section 482 of the Education Act 1996 (EA 1996) and are now regulated by AcA 2010. Academies are technically defined as independent schools, but this independence is from their local authority, not from the state. Their funding comes from the Secretary of State and is regulated by a funding agreement negotiated with the Department for Education (DfE) or the Education Funding Agency (EFA) when the academy was founded.

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Local Government weekly highlights—3 July 2025

This week's edition of Local Government weekly highlights includes: case analysis of Norton v London Borough of Haringey, in which the court considers whether an LHA can determine the suitability of offered accommodation if it has not prepared a lawful assessment under HA 1996, s 189A(1) and Surrey CC v R (BC), in which the Court of Appeal provides an overview of the time frames involved for bringing a claim for judicial review, confirmation of when an LA is duty-bound to accommodate a child under ChA 1989, s 20 and clarity on the alternative methods that can be employed to children not deemed a ‘child in need’ and not requiring accommodation. Case reports include Mother v LA (ALC and CoramBAAF intervening), in which the court ruled that it was not in the child’s best interest for the court to make sibling contact order while granting a placement for adoption order for the younger child as it might deter potential adopters; X and Y v BBC, in which the court found BBC’s application for access to documents from care proceedings to be aimed at issues outside scope of court’s functioning and should be pursued through other mechanisms; Anwar v Ealing LBC, in which the court affirmed that construction of a crossover outside the appellant property under HiA 1980, s 184(11) was lawful as statutory provisions do not require consent of adjacent affected property owners; and Smith v Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court, in which the court dismissed an appeal against obstruction of a highway under HiA 1980, s 137 with the central issue being whether land adjacent to Vauxhall Bridge constituted a public highway under HiA 1980, s 31. It also includes latest coverage on the implementation of Awaab’s Law including the government’s consultation response and draft guidance. It includes further updates on Social housing, Public procurement, Education, Local government finance, Social care, Licensing and Planning.

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