ACADEMY STATUS

WHAT WOULD IT MEAN FOR THE STAFF

OF THOMAS LORD AUDLEY SCHOOL? 21/11/11

• “We trust teachers and head teachers to run their schools.”

• “We think head teachers know how to run their schools better than bureaucrats or politicians.”

• “Subject to Parliamentary approval the Government will allow all maintained schools to become an Academy”

• Local Authority to become a commissioner of school places

• Excellent schools driving improvement in struggling schools

• Tightening budgets for local authorities and schools .

GOVERNMENT DIRECTION OF TRAVEL

21/11/11

WHAT IS AN ACADEMY?• An academy is: • A state-funded school.• Independent of the local authority. • Required to follow the same regulations and

serve its community in the same way as other state-funded schools.

• An academy is established by a formal funding agreement (or contract) agreed between the school’s Governing Body and the Department for Education (DfE).

21/11/11

CONVERTING TO ACADEMY STATUS

• Up until April 2011 it was Department for Education (DfE) policy that only schools judged by Ofsted as Outstanding or Good with Outstanding features were automatically eligible to become a converter academy.

• This precluded a number of schools in NE Essex from converting.

• The DfE also published guidance that: – allowed multiple schools, both eligible and ineligible, to

convert together via one of three models for academy chains without the need for a sponsor. 21/11/11

NORTH EAST ESSEX EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP (NEEEP)

• The seven schools considering academy conversion are Clacton County High, Gilberd, Harwich & Dovercourt High, Manningtree High, St Helena, Stanway and Thomas Lord Audley.

• The governing bodies of each of the seven schools have passed a resolution to convert to academy subject to satisfactory consultation with their staff, parents, pupils and a wider community of stakeholders.

• The Governing Bodies of all seven schools met on 16th November 2011 and the formal consultation will run for four weeks until 15th December 2011.

• At the end of the consultation, governing bodies will consider the outcome and make a final decision on whether to proceed with the conversion on 1st March 2012. 21/11/11

THE DFE’S POSITION

• In simple terms the task is to develop a partnership that:– Could support individual academies effectively.– Does not to impinge on the governance of individual

academies.– Is binding enough to demonstrate and deliver

accountability to the satisfaction of the DfE.

21/11/11

THREE ACADEMY MODELS• Multi-Academy Trust– Single Academy Trust operating multiple academies– Single Board of Directors with local governing bodies

• Partnership – Individual Academy Trusts each with separate Funding

Agreement– No need for shared governance

• Umbrella Trust– Individual Academy Trusts under an ‘Umbrella’ Trust, each

separate Funding Agreement– Umbrella Trust created by member Academies with defined

representation on each Academy Trust and/or Governing Body21/11/11

CHARACTER• If Stanway School becomes an academy: • There would be no changes to the character of the school

or the current coordinated term dates.• There would be no changes to the school curriculum.• There would be no changes to the school’s admissions

criteria. • The responsibilities towards students with special needs

would remain the same.• It would have to follow the law and guidance on exclusions

in the same way it does now.• There would be no changes to the school’s name or logos. • The school would not need to use the word academy or

apply an academy logo to its signage and documents. • The school will continue to recognise trades union.

21/11/11

CHARACTER• If Stanway School becomes an academy: • There would be no changes to the character of the school

or the current coordinated term dates.• There would be no changes to the school curriculum.• There would be no changes to the school’s admissions

criteria. • The responsibilities towards students with special needs

would remain the same.• It would have to follow the law and guidance on exclusions

in the same way it does now.• There would be no changes to the school’s name or logos. • The school would not need to use the word academy or

apply an academy logo to its signage and documents. • The school will continue to recognise trades union.

21/11/11

CHARACTER (CONTINUED)• Whether or not Stanway School becomes an

academy: • It would continue to operate as a comprehensive

school.• Be at the heart of our local community.• Provide high quality education for local children of all

abilities.• Maintain our high profile in the local community,

working with other schools and community groups.• It will be subject to Ofsted monitoring and inspections.

21/11/11

• As an Academy Stanway School would have greater control over how the allocated budget is used.

• Currently LA retains a large ‘top-slice’ of funding from school budgets

• LA decide how that money is spent and on what services

• Individual successful schools may not always benefit from these services

• In 2012-13 the amount is expected to be approximately £300K for a full year

• Additional costs associated with academy status estimated to be between £80-100K

ADDITIONAL FUNDING

21/11/11

STAFF PAY AND CONDITIONS• If a school becomes an academy, then the academy trust becomes

the employer of the staff. • All current staff would transfer to the academy under TUPE (Transfer

of Undertakings Protection of Employment) regulations, retaining current pay and conditions.

• Although the academy trust would have freedom to determine staff pay and conditions, the governors have committed to maintaining the current, nationally agreed pay and conditions for teaching staff and the Essex County Council conditions for support staff whilst these arrangements continue to exist. These would apply to both existing staff and new appointments.

• Teachers would remain in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and support staff would remain in the Local Government Pension Scheme as they are now; the employers’ contributions would be maintained by the academy.

21/11/11

NORTH EAST ESSEX EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP (NEEEP)

• North East Essex Education Partnership (NEEEP):• A partnership of individual academies.• Developing and sharing best practice in

teaching and learning.• Collaborating to recruit, train and develop

staff .• Working together to make best use of

budgets and resources. 21/11/11

NORTH EAST ESSEX EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP (NEEEP)

Common Beliefs• What is best for the young people of Colchester and

Tendring is:– Improved teaching and learning in every school.– An effective school in every local community.– A stable but healthy competitive partnership of schools.– A managed transition through pupil number decrease/

increase in the Colchester area.

21/11/11

NORTH EAST ESSEX EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP (NEEEP)

• All individual academy applications were submitted at the same time on October 17th, 2011.

• The agreement of a Governing Body to convert is not an irreversible decision.

• When an individual school’s application is approved then an Academy Order is issued £25K of funding for conversion is payable to the school.

• However, until the Funding Agreement is signed and submitted close to conversion date, the Governing Body can withdraw.

• Each school will carry out its own academy consultation but the consultation has been coordinated so that the partnership plans are consistently and cohesively communicated.

21/11/11

• To help the Governing Body and Leadership decide if Academy status is right for the school

• Identify any significant objections to the proposals that give reason to re-consider

• Decision-making gateway for Governors to decide whether to proceed

• Legal requirement of the Academies Act 2010

• Runs formally Nov 17 – Dec 15

• Consultation report presented to Governing Body after Dec 15 and then published on website and submitted to DfE

PURPOSE OF ACADEMY CONSULTATION

21/11/11

ACADEMY FAQ1. What is the proposed date for converting to an academy?2. Would the school have to change its name?3. Would the school have to change its uniform?4. Will staff have TUPE transfer rights and be legally protected to transfer under the same employment

terms and conditions?5. Will pension arrangements change?6. Will the school get more money as an academy?7. Will the school have to buy back certain services that are currently provided by the LA out of the top

slice?8. Does the school expect to be financially better off?9. Will becoming an academy affect the school’s admission arrangements?10. Can the school decide to bring in academic selection?11. Will the SEN and exclusion responsibilities change?12. Will the school still have Ofsted inspections?13. Will the responsibilities of the Governing Body change?14. Will the school still own the land and buildings?15. Will the school still recognise unions?16. Will the school change the curriculum?17. After conversion will the Headteacher be able to restructure and get rid of me?18. Will he do that?19. When the current Headteacher and Chair of Governors have retired, are there any guarantees about

changes?20. If changes are made, what can I do?

21/11/11

ACADEMY FAQ ANSWERS1. 1st March 2012.2. No.3. No.4. Yes.5. No.6. Yes.7. Yes.8. Yes.9. No.10. No.11. No.12. Yes.13. No.14. Yes.15. Yes.16. No.17. Yes.18. No.19. No.20. Go on strike!

21/11/11