What is an Academy?

Academies are independent, state-funded schools, which receive their funding directly from central government, rather than through a local authority. They are free for students to attend.

The day-to-day running of the school is with the head teacher or principal, but they are overseen by individual charitable bodies called academy trusts. Co-op Academies Trust is one such Trust that oversees academies.

These trusts and chains provide advice, support, expertise and a strategic overview.

Academies control their own admissions process and have more freedom than other schools to innovate.