Academies are publicly funded independent schools set up and run by sponsors, who provide up to 20% of the capital costs for each Academy, with the Government providing the balance and funding the recurrent costs. Academies will provide free education to secondary age pupils of all abilities, including provision for children with special educational needs and have state-of-the-art facilities, through which they will offer a broad and balanced curriculum including a specialism.

publicly funded independent secondary schools with sponsors from private or voluntary sectors, or from churches or other faith groups. Capital costs are provided by the sponsor and DfES and running costs are fully met by the DfES

The Shūyuàn (书院), usually known in English as Academies or Academies of Classical Learning, were a type of school in ancient China. Unlike national academy and district schools, shuyuan were usually private establishments built away from cities or towns, providing a quiet environment where scholars could engage in studies and contemplation without restrictions and worldly distractions.

Official Institutions set up to promote art exhibitions, rules, standards, art education, funded by the state or ruling royalty. The Academies were most influential from the mid 17th century to the end of the 19th century. The most famous of these institutions was the Academie Francaise.

See teacher academies.