Free school definition

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Free schools

This Practice Note applies in England only. There are no free schools in Wales. Although the Academies Act 2010 (AcA 2010) does apply in Wales, the provisions for the creation and funding of new free schools apply only in England.This new category of independent school was created in 2010. Free schools are technically defined as independent schools, but this independence is from the local authority of the area in which they are situated, not from the state. Free schools are funded and regulated by the Department for Education (DfE) through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).Free schools and academiesLegally, free schools are academies. They are founded or operated under AcA 2010. One practical difference between most free schools and most academies is that academies tend to be schools which, when founded, replaced earlier maintained schools, usually in the same buildings. Most free schools tend to have been set up by academy trusts as new schools, occasionally created by parent or teacher groups to meet a particular demand. A few...

Introduction to academy schools

Three types of academyMany of the state-funded secondary schools in England are now academies. The Department for Education (DfE) regularly publishes a spreadsheet showing the total number of academies, with details of the schools that have converted or are in the process of doing so.There are no academies in Wales. Although the Academies Act 2010 (AcA 2010) does apply in Wales, the provisions for the creation and funding of new academies apply only in England.Academy schools are defined in AcA 2010, s 1A. Academy schools are technically defined as independent schools, but this independence is from the local authority for the area in which they are situated, and not from the state. An academy school can be:• a ‘special academy’ if it is organised to make special educational provision for pupils with special educational needs•an alternative provision (AP) academy, defined in the AcA 2010, s 1C. These are 'schools' (see section 4(1C) of the Education Act 1996 (EA 1996)) which are roughly equivalent to maintained-sector pupil referral units (PRU). See...

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Can all five members of an unincorporated association which operates a school resign during its annual general meeting? The constitution requires the association to have five members; if it lacks sufficient members, must the school be closed?

Can all five members of an unincorporated association which operates a school resign during its annual general meeting? The constitution requires the association to have five members; if it lacks sufficient members, must the school be closed? An unincorporated association is an organisation formed when two or more persons (the members) carry on activities together for a common purpose. It does not operate for the purpose of generating profit, and it is not a separate legal entity from its members. There is no body of legislation that sets a legal framework for unincorporated associations. In general, the operation of an unincorporated association is subject to a mixture of common law and its own rules (otherwise known as its constitution or byelaws) rather than legislation. This means that the organisation’s own rules will usually determine the maximum and minimum number of members, how members are appointed and how they can resign. The members of the organisation do not benefit from limited liability because the association is not a separate legal entity...