Alexandra Slater, Solicitor and Graham Shaw, Consultant at Wrigleys Solicitors will take you through the points on commercial transfer agreements and land transfers when converting to an acedemy.

In this podcast, Chris and Graham discuss the nine key characteristics of a successful multi-academy trust:

• Strategic vision
• School to school support
• Accountability framework
• MAT wide school improvement
• Quality assurance
• Succession plan
• Clear scheme of delegation
• Outward focus
• Risk Management

Wrigleys Education Team Podcast: an introduction to the key principles of academy governance

Education partners, Chris Billington and Tim Wrigley discuss academy governance, looking at the legal structure of an academy trust and the key roles of members, trustees and local governors.

Topics covered:

• Common terminology.

• What are 'company members'.
• The role of the trustees, outlining the key functions and statutory duties.
• Introducing the 'Local Governing Body'.
• A key purpose of the 'Scheme of Delegation'.

For more information, please telephone Chris Billington or Tim Wrigley on 0113 244 6100, visit www.wrigleysschools.co.uk or follow the Education team on Twitter: @WrigleysSchool

Wrigleys Education Team Podcast: an overview of academy conversion including  the timetable and key legal documents

Education partners, Chris Billington and Tim Wrigley discuss the academy conversion process.

Topics covered:

• How realistic is the suggested 3 month timetable for conversion?

• What can a school be doing before it received its Academy Order?
• What is "due diligence" and what exactly does that mean in the context of an academy conversion?
• Sources of help with conversion.

For more information, please telephone Chris Billington or Tim Wrigley on 0113 244 6100, visit www.wrigleysschools.co.uk or follow the Education team on Twitter: @WrigleysSchool

Wrigleys Education Team Podcast:  [Exposing and Exploring Some Academy Myths]

Education partners Chris Billington and Tim Wrigley discuss some of the common myths and rumours about academies and the current position of the Government's policy that all schools should become academies covering both DfE and academy-sceptic perspectives.

Myths and topics covered:

• All schools must convert or has there been a policy U-turn?
• Academisation is effectively privatisation of maintained schools.
• There will be no longer a role for Local Authorities in education.
• Academy schools are spending money on business and financial expertise not education.
• Is there a tipping point after which it is unviable for Local Authorities to retain control of schools? What impact does this have on the programme as a whole?
• How is the programme effecting the role and centralised services provided by Local Authorities?
• The costs for schools to convert is very high.
• Do Schools have to abandon their identity and values when they join a multi-academy trust?

For more information, please telephone Chris Billington or Tim Wrigley on 0113 244 6100, visit www.wrigleysschools.co.uk or follow the Education team on Twitter: @WrigleysSchool