# Academy School — Definition & Explanation

> From the SchoolBrowse Education Glossary.
> HTML version: https://schoolbrowse.com/glossary/academy-school

**In short:** A state-funded school in England that is independent of local authority control, often part of a multi-academy trust.
An **academy** is a state-funded school in England that operates independently of local authority control. Academies are funded directly by the Department for Education and have freedoms over curriculum, school day structure, and teacher pay and conditions.

## Types of Academies

Converter academies are high-performing schools that chose academy status. Sponsored academies were underperforming schools taken over by sponsors. Free schools are new academies set up by groups like parents or charities. Most academies belong to multi-academy trusts (MATs).

## Similarities and Differences

Academies must follow the same admissions, special needs, and exclusions rules as other state schools. They are inspected by Ofsted. However, they have more flexibility than maintained schools in areas like curriculum design and staff pay.

## Frequently asked questions

**Q: What is an academy school in the UK?**

An academy is a state-funded school in England that operates independently of local authority control, with freedoms over curriculum and operations.
**Q: Are academies private schools?**

No. Academies are state-funded and free to attend. They have operational freedoms but are not private schools.

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