Completion of Academy Projects
29 September 2009
The Public Sector team at leading Welsh transactional law firm M&A Solicitors has advised West Sussex County Council on the successful completion of three Academy projects. The projects involve the creation of three new Academies in the county of West Sussex; The Littlehampton Academy, The Sir Robert Woodard Academy and the Shoreham Academy. The development of the Academies has been a collaborative project undertaken by West Sussex County Council and two sponsors, the Woodard Academies Trust and United Learning Trust, with the Council acting as joint sponsor for two of the Academies. The Academies opened to students in September 2009 and will benefit from large scale investment in the coming years.
Academies are a new type of secondary school, designed to meet the needs of young people in the 21st century. Academies are independently governed, state-funded schools providing free education to all students. They are given the freedom to provide an innovative educational environment that will benefit each young person.
M&A Solicitors' expert Public Sector team provided advice to West Sussex County Council on all commercial aspects of the projects and including educational law, development and funding matters and the involvement of the Trust. M&A also provided expert property advice and support to the Council in relation to the Shoreham Academy. The project involved a number of lawyers and represents a successful conclusion to several months of work from all of those involved.
Peter Griffiths, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Education and Schools, said:
"The new schools will not only benefit from a major cash injection, which will result in new state-of-the-art buildings, but they will also be a real focus for the local communities. I am confident the Academies will enhance the educational opportunities available to young people and will also make a significant contribution to the whole community."
Rachelle Sellek, M&A's Lead Partner at for the Project said:
"We are delighted to have supported and advised West Sussex County Council in undertaking the transfer of its schools to its Academy Sponsors in order for the predecessor schools to be operated as Academies. Our public sector team is committed to helping our public sector clients achieve their objectives, and these projects demonstrate our growing expertise, and strengthen our reputation, in educational projects."
The work undertaken follows successful completion of a previous Academy Project (Midhurst Rother College) and the £4million variation of a Schools PFI.
If you would like further information regarding this project please contact Rachelle Sellek (Partner) at M&A Solicitors on 02920 663114 or at rsellek@manda.uk.com