A briefing note is provided in the associated resources on this page, for academies in the Local Government Pensions Scheme (LGPS) and the implications for schools converting to academy status.
The briefing note indicates that technical guidance on pooling will be provided for fund managers. This has now been produced and is available under academy arrangements and the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Background
In December 2011 the Secretary of State for Education and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government issued a joint letter to local authorities and LGPS Funds. This letter clarified Ministers’ views of how academies should be treated within the scheme.
Their preferred approach is that where an academy wishes to be "pooled" with the local authority for LGPS pension purposes, rather than being treated as a standalone employer within the fund, the fund should positively consider this. This would mean the Academy continuing to pay the same employer contributions as maintained schools in the local area.
