MCP Solicitors and Academies
Metcalfe Copeman & Pettefar is delighted to announce the introduction of our “Academies Package” of services available to local schools wishing to convert to Academy Status.
Our Academies Support Team is available to provide advice to Headteachers and Governors on conversion to Academy status and after conversion to give ongoing support in the Academy operations.
What does Conversion to an Academy Involve?
Once a school has decided that it wishes to go ahead with the conversion, the main stages of the process are as follows:-
- The school must complete an online form to ‘register their interest’ with the Department of Education.
Stage One – Registration
- The school must complete the Application to Convert and will need to begin the statutory consultation period with all interested parties. It will be required to comply with the TUPE Regulations concerning its staff members. At the end of this Stage, if the school is successful, an Academy Order will be made by the Secretary of State
Stage Two – Application to Convert
- Title to the land and buildings that form the Academy must be investigated and any land leased to the Academy. The Academy will need to agree and document its changed charitable status. Once the consultation process is complete, the Secretary of State will sign the Funding Agreement which sets out the opening date for the Academy.
Stage Three – Funding Agreement & Pre-Opening
The conversion process can take as little as three to four months but we recognise that this is a major step and one that needs to be embraced by all concerned.
How we can help
We offer a comprehensive range of services to assist you from the initial registration of interest and consultation right through to pre-opening arrangements. We can assist you with the legal aspects of the conversion process, including the consultation, property matters, contracts, incorporation of your vehicle and the commercial transfer of the undertaking.
For the Future
Once Academy status is achieved we will not abandon you!
We offer a full range of advice on property, commercial, contract, employment and pension law to help you deal with the inevitable legal post-conversion issues. Being a local firm, we are easily accessible. We are no more than an hour away from Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk from our offices in Thetford, King’s Lynn, Wisbech and Peterborough.
We have three serving School Governors in our Partnership, one in a private school and the others in the maintained sector. We believe that their breadth of experience give us an edge – a real understanding of both sides.
We are happy to work with your advisers. We have an established working relationship with Haines Watts Chartered Accountants who can provide you with the necessary accounting services for your Academy such as audited accounts, VAT, expense control and general accounting advice and assistance.
We offer a number of flexible fee schemes; these include hourly paid, fixed fee and retainer and we can tailor these to suit your needs. Whichever you choose, our fee scheme will be transparent for you to satisfy yourself on value.
All of our projects will be managed by one partner. He or she will be responsible for co-ordinating the input from lawyers in the firm with the appropriate specialist skills. That gives you one point of contact.
If you would like to discuss our services in further detail then please call 01842 765100 or email annabel.mayer@mcp-law.co.uk to arrange a free, no obligation appointment.
