Taking a look at the issue of school finance, four principals of existing primary and secondary academies discuss how academy status has affected their funding, in this school management resource.
Academies are funded directly by the government, rather than being "top-sliced" by local authorities, which means larger budgets, and more freedom over how the money is spent. The principals outline what they see as benefits of being independent from their local authority.
Being an academy also brings the freedom to choose which services to buy from the local authority and which ones to buy in independently. Extra funding is also used to employ more staff and provide bonuses.
The four principals featured are Sir Michael Wilshaw from Mossbourne Academy, Venessa Willms from King Solomon Academy Primary, Steve Kenning from Harris City Academy and Sally Coates from Burlington Danes Academy.
