Converting to academy status can be a complex process, and there are additional issues and complications for PFI schools which are making the change. Having an experienced team on your side can smooth the process, helping you reach your objectives on deadline.

Here’s how we can help:

• PFI specialists. We have a specialist team of PFI academy conversion lawyers to advise clients on all aspects of PFI arrangements.
• Robust understanding. We developed the model PFI Agreements adopted by the DfE.  The DfE's model documents for PFI Academies are based on arrangements which we helped to develop on previous academy conversions.   Given our historic and continuing relationship with the DfE, we believe we are better placed than anyone to advise you on these agreements.
• Experienced practitioners.   We have already dealt with and understand all of the issues.  Our PFI team has advised on many PFI academy conversions and is experienced in tackling the complications and dealing with the challenges that often arise.  For example

• we ensure that the agreement between the Academy Trust and the local authority is drafted robustly so that the academy will continue to benefit from the PFI services post conversion. 
• we find that the requirements of the PFI agreement are not always met (for example, building completion certificates not having been issued).  We aim to identify these issues as early as possible so that we can develop solutions which both protect the academy trust and help ensure that the academy conversion goes ahead on time. 
• we ensure that all parties (including the PFI contractor and the PFI funder) are engaged in the academy conversion process as early as possible in order to prevent delay.

Help when you need it

Knowing there’s an expert on hand to advise you and your governing body when issues arise gives you peace of mind. 

Please contact Jonathan Oddy on 020 7665 0943 if you would like more information on how we help PFI schools through the conversion process and beyond.