Once the academy sponsor’s application has been approved by the regional director will identify appropriate schools requiring sponsorship. You will be required to outline the support you could offer these schools and, if your bid is successful, the regional director will recommend you formally to the school as their sponsor. The school’s governing body will still have to pass a resolution to approve you as their sponsor, unless the school has been judged to be ‘eligible for intervention’ and an academy order has been made by the Secretary of State without the governing body having made an application.