Academies either replace one or more existing schools facing challenging circumstances or are new schools to meet local need for school places. Academies are all-ability, state-funded schools established and managed by sponsors from a wide range of backgrounds, including high performing schools and colleges, universities, individual philanthropists, businesses, the voluntary sector, and the faith communities.

Some are established educational providers, and all of them bring a record of success in other enterprises which they are able to apply to their Academies in partnership with experienced school managers. Academies are not maintained by the local authority, but they collaborate closely with it, and with other schools in the area. Academies are funded at a level comparable to other local schools in their area.

In 2006, the responsibility for delivering the Academies building programme was transferred from the DCSF to Partnerships for Schools (PfS), and in doing so, was integrated into the wider Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

As with BSF, policy ownership remains with the DCSF, who also continue to be responsible for sponsor relations in the Academies programme.