The consultation period will run from 9th March to Friday 17th April. Will Sacred Heart definitely become an academy? The governing body has submitted an application to convert to academy status and is working towards a conversion in September 2026. However, the school is not obligated to become an academy until the contract between the multi academy trust and the Department for Education (known as the Funding Agreement) is signed. The academy trust will not sign the Funding Agreement until parents and carers of pupils at the school, staff at the school, and pupils themselves have had the opportunity to comment on the proposals. To respond to this consultation on whether the conversion of the school to academy status should take place, representations can be made in writing to the Headteacher.