Academies: Finance

Mr. Laws
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether academies will be included in the new funding regime announced in Raising Expectations: enabling the system to deliver; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight
Academies will continue to be funded directly by the DCSF on the basis of funding agreements. Like other providers, they will represent their interests and contribute expertise through local 14-19 Partnerships. We know for example that from September 2008, 54 per cent. of academies will be offering diplomas and from September 2009, 75 per cent. of academies will be offering diplomas. We expect academies to participate fully in these new arrangements. But where an individual academy is unable to agree with the local authority what its provision should be, the Secretary of State retains the right to fund the number of academy places which he deems to be appropriate, having first consulted the relevant local authorities. The academies will receive their funding directly from the DCSF in line with the agreed commissioning plan.