Academy Schools in England — What Are They? Complete Guide 2025

What Is It?

Understanding Academy Schools in England

Academy schools are state-funded schools in England that operate independently of local authority (LA) control. Funded directly by the government via the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), they are governed by an academy trust — a charitable company with a board of trustees — rather than the local council.

The academy programme was significantly expanded by the Academies Act 2010. Before this, academies were created to replace underperforming schools (sponsored academies). After 2010, high-performing schools were encouraged to convert voluntarily (converter academies). Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) then allowed multiple schools to operate under a single governance structure.

Academies have greater freedoms than maintained schools: they are not required to follow the National Curriculum, can set their own term dates, and have more discretion over staffing and pay. In practice, most operate similarly to other state schools. As of 2024, over 10,000 academies operate in England, forming the majority of secondary schools and a growing proportion of primaries.

Step by Step

How Academy Schools Works

1

Find academies in your area using our school finder — filter by type to show academies only.
2

Check whether the academy belongs to a Multi-Academy Trust and research the trust's ethos and performance track record.
3

Review the academy's Ofsted report, exam results, and (for secondary) Progress 8 score.
4

Apply through your local council's coordinated admissions portal — most academies participate, even though they are independent.
5

Note that some academies have specialist aptitude selection for up to 10% of places in designated subject areas.
6

Accept your offer and attend any transition events the academy provides.

Pros & Considerations

The Advantages & Things to Consider

Advantages

Greater operational freedoms can enable faster innovation and school improvement
Strong MATs provide shared subject expertise and staff career development
Many high-performing converter academies achieve excellent results
Free to attend, like all state schools
Independent governance can be more responsive and agile than LA structures

Considerations

Quality is highly variable — some sponsored academies in deprived areas still underperform
Reduced local authority oversight means less democratic accountability
MAT executive pay and governance have faced public scrutiny
Academy freedoms have raised concerns about curriculum narrowing
Distance between schools in some MATs can weaken local community ties

Find Academy Schools Schools Near You

Search our database of 52,000+ schools across England. Filter by type, region, local authority, and Ofsted rating.

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Related Guides

Other School Types to Explore

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Academy Schools in England

Is an academy school better than a maintained state school?

"Academy" is a governance and funding model, not a quality grade. Some academies are outstanding; others require improvement — the same applies to maintained schools. When choosing, focus on Ofsted report, progress data, ethos, and local reputation rather than the school's legal category.

What is a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT)?

A MAT is a charitable company running multiple academy schools under a single governance structure. The MAT has overall responsibility for all schools within the trust. Large MATs can provide specialised support, central HR, and professional development across schools.

Can an academy select pupils by academic ability?

Most academies cannot select by general academic ability. Selective admissions remain the preserve of designated grammar schools. However, academies with a specialism can interview or audition up to 10% of their intake for aptitude in that specialism (e.g., Music, Sport). This is called aptitude-based selection.

Do academies follow the National Curriculum?

Academies are not legally required to follow the National Curriculum, though most do broadly. Some use this freedom to offer a distinctive curriculum — for example, a knowledge-based approach or stronger creative arts provision.

How is an academy school funded compared to a maintained school?

Academies are funded directly by the ESFA using the National Funding Formula (same as maintained schools), plus additional funding for services they must procure themselves (HR, legal support) that maintained schools receive through the LA.

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