Announcement of the Prinicipal Regulator

Lord Hill, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools, announced proposals on 30 March  for the Secretary of State for Education to become the Principal Regulator under the Charities Act 2006 for those exempt charities within the remit of the Department for Education.  The role of the Principal Regulator is to promote compliance with charity law by the governing bodies of these exempt charities which comprise Academy trusts, foundation and voluntary schools and sixth form college corporations.

The letter sent to all Academies is available to download from the following address: http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/a0061176/latest-information-on-academies

The letter states that oversight of Academies will be undertaken by the Young People's Leaning Agency (YPLA) and in due course by its successor body, the Education Funding Agency (EFA), reporting to the Secretary of State. The intention is that the changes will take effect later in 2011, with both 'new' and 'old style' Academies (i.e. those currently registered with the Charity Commission which were established prior to May 2010) being recognised as exempt charities at this time with the 'old style' Academies being removed from the Charity Commission's Register.

For further information please contact Sarah Morrison on 020 7516 2266 or email smorrison@littlejohnllp.com