Academy Conversions
Last updated:The Commissioning Manager sits within the School Commissioning Team in Children’s Services and provides the following services to schools.
- Manages all legal matters relating to school sites and educational land.
- Acts as a single point of contact for schools throughout the academy conversion process.
- Leads on all projects relating to the opening of convertor and sponsored academies, providing a link between the Local Authority, the Department for Education, the Regional Schools Commissioner, the Education & Skills Funding Agency, multi-academy trusts and the schools themselves.
- Supports schools by providing appropriate and timely responses to issues and queries arising, referring to partners and colleagues as appropriate.
- Co-ordinates the actions of the Buckinghamshire Council teams involved in the conversion (HR, Legal, Finance, Property) to secure completion of the 125-year Academy Lease and the Commercial Transfer Agreement in keeping with prescribed DfE timelines.
- Represents the Local Authority at school meetings (staff, parent, governor, IEB) as required to provide information, support the process and secure agreement as appropriate.
- Ensures statutory and procedural obligations are fulfilled and compliance by others is managed effectively.
- Works closely with the following stakeholders throughout the conversion process:
- Local Authority officers across council services;
- Headteachers and school leaders;
- Chairs of Governing Bodies and IEBs;
- Community representatives;
- Government officials of the DfE, the Regional Schools Commissioner office and the Education & Skills Funding Agency; and
- Project Managers within local, regional and national academy trusts.
Key Contact
Joanne Marchant
Commissioning Manager
01296 387382
joanne.marchant@buckinghamshire.gov.uk