Following the extended schools agenda, shared use of school sites is common e.g. with health, social services, adult education, leisure and other community groups. Schools should give thought to whether the existing arrangements will continue once the school is independent, and on what basis. We would suggest that this review is conducted in conjunction with the review referred to under the transfer of contracts.

A new academy will be alive to its local community looking for confirmation that the facilities that it had been accustomed to enjoying out of school hours will still be available to it post conversion. Equally the new school will want to ensure that any such use complements any new educational strategies the school wishes to introduce. Both the school and the community will benefit from setting out the terms of any community use arrangements in a written agreement.

Our highly experienced academies team have drafted, negotiated and successfully concluded a wide range of community use agreements and would be happy to discuss your requirements further.

In the case of PFI schools, it may be necessary to consider whether the shared facilities should be excluded from the lease, or subject to a lease-back arrangement.

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