How to become a foundation school or remove a foundation

Be clear on the step-by-step process for changing your school’s category to a foundation school, and how to end a relationship with a foundation.

Last reviewed on 22 September 2022
School types: Maintained · School phases: All
Ref: 4981
Contents
  1. How to become a foundation
  2. How to remove a foundation

This article refers to guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) on making significant changes to maintained schools and The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013.

How to become a foundation

This includes:

  • Changing your category to a foundation school
  • Acquiring a ‘foundation majority’
    • This means acquiring an instrument of government where your school’s foundation trust will have the power to appoint most of the governors on your governing board

This process is set out on pages 35 to 40 of the DfE’s guidance on making significant changes.

Publish your statement and statutory proposal This will