Once an agreement to apply to join ODST has been made, ODST staff will work alongside the school throughout conversion to facilitate the process. Key steps on the journey include:

• Carry out the necessary consultation with the community, parents and staff
• Hold a governing body meeting to consider the consultation responses
• Formally apply to join ODST and obtain the Secretary of State’s consent
• Inform the Local Authority
• Ensure that financial systems are in place to manage funding
• Ensure that the school site is made available to the academy trust via leases and supplemental agreements
• Transfer, renew or procure new contracts, service level agreements and licences and purchase insurance as appropriate
• Transfer under TUPE all contract arrangements for staff. This is a formal legal consultation process which is separate from the consultation with all stakeholders.

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