Secure 16 to 19 Academies Act 2026

2026 Chapter 5

An Act to make provision about the notice period for termination of funding agreements for secure 16 to 19 Academies; to make provision about the Secretary of State’s duty to consider the impact on existing educational institutions when it is proposed to establish or expand a secure 16 to 19 Academy; and to alter the consultation question required when it is proposed to establish or expand a secure 16 to 19 Academy.

Enacted [12th February 2026]

Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

^I11 Secure 16 to 19 Academies (funding, impact and consultation)¶

1 The Academies Act 2010 is amended as follows.

Amends Academies Act 2010 · 1 insertion

2 Payments under Academy agreements

subsections (1) – (2) unchanged

2A Subsection (2) applies to an Academy agreement in respect of a secure 16 to 19 Academy as though the references to 7 years were references to 2 years.

subsections (3) – (6) unchanged

2 In section 2 (payments under Academy agreements), after subsection (2) insert—

Amends Academies Act 2010 · 1 insertion

9 Impact on existing schools etc

1 This section applies if the Secretary of State is deciding whether to enter into Academy arrangements in relation to—

a a new educational institution, or

b an existing educational institution that, if the arrangements are entered into, will provide education for pupils of a wider range of ages.

except where the institution, if the arrangements are entered into, is to be a secure 16 to 19 Academy.

subsections (2) – (4) unchanged

3 In section 9 (impact: new and expanded educational institutions), in subsection (1), after paragraph (b) (and on a new line) insert—

4 In section 10 (consultation: new and expanded educational institutions)—

Amends Academies Act 2010 · 2 insertions

10 Consultation on conversion

subsections (1) – (2) unchanged

2A But where the educational institution, if the arrangements are entered into, is to be a secure 16 to 19 Academy—

a the person is not required to carry out a consultation on that question, and

b they must instead carry out a consultation on the question of how they should cooperate with potential local partners in connection with the establishment and carrying on of the Academy.

2B “Potential local partners” in subsection (2A)(b) means—

a persons exercising functions of a public nature, and

b so far as not falling within paragraph (a), proprietors of educational institutions,

with whom the person carrying out the consultation thinks it appropriate to cooperate.

subsections (3) – (4) unchanged

a after subsection (2) insert—

;

Amends Academies Act 2010 · 1 change

10 Consultation on conversion

subsections (1) – (2) unchanged

3 ~~The consultation~~A consultation under this section must seek the views of such persons as the person carrying it out thinks appropriate.

subsection (4) unchanged

b in subsection (3), for “The consultation” substitute “A consultation under this section”.

^I22 Extent, commencement and short title¶

1 This Act extends to England and Wales.

2 This Act comes into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which it is passed.

3 This Act may be cited as the Secure 16 to 19 Academies Act 2026.

Footnotes

I1
S. 1 in force at 12.4.2026, see s. 2(2)
I2
S. 2 in force at 12.4.2026, see s. 2(2)