I attended a school that changed to an Academy between my 3rd and 4th year, it was the worst decision the school made, they got less than half the funding promised and have barely any to spend on departments. sharing a biology A level textbook between 3 people became the normal the buildings needed repair but it couldn't be funded. Talking to teachers you could see the resented the change and the new rules on the intake of children. to an outsider looking in the school still holds a good reputation but from someone who saw before during and after the change, it has declined.