Frequently asked questions about Academies

Some Academies have no union representation – what is the AET position on unions?

The AET recognises the following trade unions for individual and collective representation, consultation and negotiation purposes. In Essex the AET has a formal agreement with them: the teacher unions (ACSL, ATL, NASUWT and NUT) and the unions representing support and other professional school staff (GMB, UNISON and Unite).

What about the funding?

Funding is certainly a crucial part of the process. Academies are funded at the same rate as other state schools. However, there are a number of economies of scale that the sponsors can take advantage of in functions previously delivered by other organisations, such as finance, human resources, facilities management and teacher training This releases additional money which is passed on to the Academy.

Is there any prospect in the future of the proposed Academy becoming an 11 – 18 educational establishment?

In due course, if the school is reaching its capacity in numbers and standards are high enough, consideration would be given to post-16 education being viable at the Academy.

If it all goes wrong, who will be held accountable?

It is the Academies Enterprise Trust, the operational division of the sponsor, Greensward Charitable Trust, who will be held responsible to the Department for Education (DfE.) In the past, if schools were failing it was the responsibility of the Local Authority to step in and take action. Day to day responsibility for the Academy will, however, remain with the Executive Principal and Headteacher.