Differences in Governance

	Free Schools	Academies	Maintained	Independent
Ownership of Physical Assets	Charitable trusts (must be non-profits, but within that could include charities, parent/teacher groups, universities,etc)	Charitable trusts	LA for community schools. Other types, the land and buildings may be owned by a charity, religious group or governing body.	Private. Usually, but not always, a trust
Decision-making & Fiscal responsibility	Trustees/Governing body	Trustees/Governing body	Governing body (and LA)	School Governors/Trustees
Involvement of private sector	Able to subcontract elements of the running and management of the school to other private sector organisations	Able to subcontract elements of the running and management of the school to other private sector organisations.	Able to subcontract elements of the running and management of the school to other private sector organisations	Can be fully or partially privately operated.

Source: http://www.newschoolsnetwork.org