Academy (English school)

"Academy school" redirects here. For other uses, see Academy school (disambiguation).

The Skinners' Kent Academy is a secondary school in Royal Tunbridge Wells with academy status.

An academy school in England is a state-funded school which is directly funded by the Department for Education and independent of local authority control. The terms of the arrangements are set out in individual Academy Funding Agreements.[1] 80% of secondary schools, 40% of primary schools and 44% of special schools are academies (as of October 2023).[2]

Academies are self-governing non-profit charitable trusts and may receive additional support from personal or corporate sponsors, either financially or in kind.[3] Academies are inspected and follow the same rules on admissions, special educational needs and exclusions as other state schools and students sit the same national exams. They have more autonomy with the National Curriculum,[4] but must ensure their curriculum is broad and balanced,[5] and that it includes the core subjects of English, maths and science. They must also teach relationships and sex education, and religious education.[6] They are free to choose their specialisms.

  1. ^ "What is a Funding Agreement? | a can of worms". davidwolfe.org.uk. 8 October 2011. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  2. ^ Department for Education (October 2023). "Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics". GOV.UK: Explore Education Statistics.
  3. ^ "Charities and charity trustees: an introduction for school governors". Charity Commission website. Charity Commission. Archived from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Types of school - Academies". Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  5. ^ "Academies Act 2010, Section 1". Gov.uk. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Academy and Free School Master Funding Agreement" (PDF). Gov.uk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 October 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2016.