The Academies Programme aims to establish 400 Academies in England, 200 of which will be open or in development by 2010. The DfE asked PfS to take on delivery of Academies in March 2006, in order to more closely align investment in Academies with Building Schools for the Future.
Academies are publicly-funded independent schools, for pupils of all abilities, established by sponsors from business, faith or voluntary groups working in partnership with central Government and local education partners. Their independent status allows them the flexibility to be innovative and creative in their curriculum, staffing and governance and to work in different ways to traditional local authority schools.
More about Academies on this website...
Generic term for the management of the costs that must be met for delivery of a local BSF programme. The local authority will be required to meet some of those costs from local resources - the difference between total cost and the level of funding provided by central Government is often called 'the affordability gap'.
Schools for pupils aged five to 18. A central aim of these schools is to stop pupil performance dipping between primary and secondary level. Increasing numbers of state schools are becoming 'all-through', whereas private sector senior schools have traditionally had their own preparatory school nearby.
