Academies- anyone know much about them?

[EnglishRose1320]

Just have a load of questions about academies basically, how much do they change schools? I know they vary a fair amount but feel a bit in the dark about them and seeing as by 2020 in at least the county I am in we will no longer have an LEA and only have academies I feel I ought to wise up on them. What experiences have people had of them so far both as staff and as parents, I'm looking at it from both view points. Do people think they are a good idea or Not? Sorry bit rambly but basically any info and thoughts appreciated.

The academy trust runs the academy. Every academy must have an academy trust which may be just for that academy or may be for a group of academies.

An academy sponsor is a person or organisation that has been approved to support an underperforming academy or a group of academies. They take responsibility for the school(s) and will be heavily involved in running it. An academy does not have to have a sponsor.