Get consent to convert to an academy: guidance and template

You need to get consent before you can apply to convert to an academy. Be clear on who you need to get consent from, and use our template letter to save you time.

Last reviewed on 18 February 2025
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 45670
Contents
  1. Get consent before you apply
  2. Use our template letter to get consent
  3. Decide whether to start the formal consultation period before you apply

Get consent before you apply

You need to get consent to apply to become an academy as part of step 1 of the conversion process. Get an overview of the the full process to convert in our other article.

It’s likely you and your governing board will already have had informal discussions with multi-academy trusts (MATs) up to this point, so getting formal consent to apply shouldn’t come as a surprise to those involved.

Who do I need consent from?

If you have Whole School or Leaders+ membership of The Key, share our GovernorHub resources with your board, such as our article on the