Gomersal St. Mary's CE (A) Primary School Consultation Document

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Learning the Christian WayIN PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. MARYS PARISH CHURCH, THE DIOCESE OF WAKEFIELD AND KIRKLEES COUNCIL

Gomersal St. Marys CE (A) Primary SchoolShirley Avenue

Gomersal

BD19 4NA

Headteacher: Mrs Susan Scott

Tel: 01274 335 260Fax: 01274 335 259

E-Mail: [email protected]: www.gomersalstmarys.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter:@StMarysGomersal

GOMERSAL ST MARYS CE (VOLUNTARY AIDED) PRIMARY SCHOOL

DIOCESE OF WAKEFIELDKIRKLEES COUNCIL

CONSULTATION DOCUMENTPROPOSAL TO BECOME A VOLUNTARY CONTROLLED SCHOOL

Introduction

The Governing Body of Gomersal St Marys CE (Voluntary Aided) Primary School are consultingon their proposal to become a Voluntary Controlled School on and from 1 January 2014. This

paper sets out why the Governors think that this change of status is right for the school, and whatthe change would mean for the school itself and the Gomersal community. We are consultingwith parents, local community, St. Mary's Church, other schools, Kirklees Council, the WakefieldDiocese, and other interested bodies.

We hope that you will let us have your views on the proposed change.

You can write to:

The Chair of Governors,Gomersal St Marys CE (Voluntary Aided) Primary School,

Shirley Avenue, GomersalBD19 4NA

Or you can e-mail comments to:[email protected]

In each case, please head your communication VC CONSULTATION

There is a response form at the back of this paper which you may use if you wish.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Aided and Controlled Schools: background information

In Voluntary Aided Schools:

The school is owned by Trustees as part of a Church educational trust;

Foundation (Church) Governors are in the majority on the Governing Body;

Staff are employed by the Governing Body;

The Governing Body is responsible for the maintenance of the building andfor funding improvements: for this they receive funding from the Governmentand other sources but contribute the remaining 10%;

RE is taught according to the provisions of the Trust Deed;

Worship is conducted according to the provisions of the Trust Deed;

The Governing Body is responsible for admissions to the school.

In Voluntary Controlled Schools:

The School is owned by Trustees as part of a Church educational trust;

Foundation (Church) Governors are in a minority on the Governing Body;Staff are employed by the Local Authority;

The Local Authority is responsible for maintaining the school buildingsfunding improvements, although many of its responsibilities are delegatedto the Governing Body;

RE is taught according to the local Agreed Syllabus, though parents canrequest teaching in accordance to the provisions of the Trust Deed;

The Local Authority is responsible for admissions into the school.

The Proposed Alteration

The proposed alteration is to change from Church of England Voluntary Aided to VoluntaryControlled status. The school would be maintained by Kirklees Council and they would take overthe responsibility for admissions; employment of staff; and capital expenditure on themaintenance of the school buildings.

The Governing Body would be reconstituted in line with Government Regulations.

The Governors are of the view that changing to Voluntary Controlled status, thereby removing therequirement to raise significant sums to support capital expenditure, would enable them toconcentrate their efforts on supporting the leadership of the school.

It is the Governors belief that the change would have a positive effect on the teaching andlearning provision of the school by allowing the leadership team improved access to capital fundsand improve the physical learning environment.

The Governors are of the view that the change to Voluntary Controlled status would enable themto reaffirm the schools distinctive Church of Englandcharacter and to have greater control overthe schools future, while remaining part of the Kirklees family of schools and while maintaining anexplicit commitment to serving the wider community.


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Admissions

The Local Authority would take on responsibility for admissions. They, like all admissionsauthorities, are bound by the National Admissions Code, and envisage an admissions policy alongthe following lines: (NB this reflects the current policy, but the LA is currently consulting over

changes to the policy for 2014/15)

If the school is oversubscribed, the order in which children would be admitted would be:Priority 1 Children in public care (Looked after Children)Priority 2 Children who live in the schools Priority Admission Area (PAA) who have an older

brother or sister attending from the same address at the date of admission (theyounger sibling rule)

Priority 3 Children who live in the schools PAAPriority 4 Children who live outside the schools PAA who have an older brother or sister

attending from the same address at the date of admission (the younger sibling rule)Priority 5 Children who live outside the schools PAA, priority given to those living closest to

the school.

Governors feel that an admissions policy of this nature would allow the school to continue to servethe wider local community as it would wish to do. Should there be a change of status, the 2014admission would be under the above criteria. However the Priority Admission Area (PAA) wouldbe that currently served by Gomersal Primary School (see appended map); distance from theschool is measured in a straight line from a childs home address to the school.

Admission to nursery will continue to be dealt with by the school.

Governing Body

The composition of the Governing Body would change if the school adopted Controlled status.Governors feel that a total size of Governing Body of 13 would be appropriate for Gomersal St.Marys as a controlled school and envisage a composition along the following lines:

Total number of Governors 13 places

Foundation Governors 2 places plus the Principal Officiating Ministerof St Marys Church

Parent Governors 4 places

Staff Governors 2 places - plus the Headteacher

Co-option to represent theLocal Community 2 places

Local Authority Governor 1 place

The school envisages little or no change in Governing Body personnel, only a change of status for

some Governors.


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Curriculum

Becoming a Controlled school would make no difference to the curriculum followed by the childrenand OFSTED would still inspect the school.RE would continue to be taught according to Diocesan guidelines, which currently recommenduse of the Kirklees Agreed Syllabus and the school would continue to follow the NationalCurriculum, as amended from time to time. Collective worship would continue to reflect thetraditions and practices of the Church of England, and Governors would continue to foster stronglinks with St. Marys Church, Gomersal. The school would continue to respect the faith andbackgrounds of all pupils in delivering its curriculum, its worship and its pastoral policies.

Buildings

As an Aided school, the Governing Body has responsibility, on behalf of the foundation forcontributing to the costs of capital works on the school buildings. At present, the contribution rateis 10%. Governors have struggled to raise this contribution. All such contributions in recent yearshave had to be found from the school budget to fund projects such as the refurbishment of theNursery and classrooms, the provision of an ICT suite including the purchase of all ICT resourcesi.e childrens laptops, Interactive Whiteboards etc. The Governing Body and School Leadershipteam believe this is money which would be much more properly spent on the childrens educationand learning experiences

Staffing

The Kirklees Local Authority would be the employer of staff should Gomersal St Mary s CE(Voluntary Aided) Primary School becomes a Voluntary Controlled school. Governors arediscussing transfer arrangements with Kirklees Local Authority to ensure that any change wouldbe effected smoothly. This would be carried out under the TUPE regulations. There would be noimplications for staff conditions of service or pension entitlements. As a result, the GoverningBody envisages there would be no change to staff members at Gomersal St Marys.

Summing Up

Gomersal St Marys is already acknowledged as a good school with outstanding features andgood capacity for improvement. The most recent Ofsted inspection reported :It is making steadyand consistent progress in improving almost all aspects of its work. It has clear strengths in thevery successful way it encourages pupils to accept, respect and celebrate diversity and equality,and adopts healthy lifestyles. These strengths ensure that pupils spiritual, moral, social andcultural development is good. The schools capacity for sustained improvement is good.

Governors and senior leaders wish to concentrate on further improving this quality learningenvironment without the restrictions imposed by financial difficulty.


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The SIAS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools) Report of January 2010 described GomersalSt Marys CE (VA) Primary School as an outstanding Church school where the spiritual andintellectual development of its children is at the forefront of its Christian mission. A dedicatedleadership team actively supported by a united governing body means that children are providedwith every opportunity to succeed.Governors are determined that this will continueand any change to Controlled status would be

viewed as a means of maintaining the high standards already achieved.

What happens now?

We would be grateful if you would complete the questionnaire at the back of this booklet and letus have your comments by the date shown.There will be an opportunity for parents, carers, stakeholders and the wider community to discussthe possible change on Tuesday 26

thFeb 2013 between 2.00pm and 3.00pm, and between

5:30pm and 6:30pm at the school.

This Statutory Consultation Period ends on Friday 22nd

March 2013; following this the Governors

will consider all the responses and decide whether to press on with the next stage, which wouldbe the publication of a formal Statutory Notice, probably during April 2013, setting out the proposalto make the change to Controlled status, and inviting further comments and representations.

Under the legislation as it stands at present, Kirklees Council would decide the proposal, and wewould expect to have a decision by the end of July 2013.


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Appendix 1: Proposed Priority Admission Area


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GOMERSAL ST MARYS CE (VOLUNTARY AIDED) PRIMARY SCHOOL

CONSULTATION ON PROPOSAL TO BECOME A VOLUNTARY CONTROLLED SCHOOL

Response form

1. Do you in principle support the proposal to obtain Controlled status?

2. What are your reasons for the response at (1.) above?

3. Does this paper give you enough information? Please tell us if there isanything else you would like to know.

4. Are there any other comments you would like to make on this proposal?

About you: This asks you for some information that will help us analyse the results of the survey.You will not be identified by any of the information you provide.I am a: (Please tick and complete all those that apply to you)

Parent/Carer Your childs/childrens school/s __________________________

Pupil Your school __________________________

Governor Your school __________________________

Member of staff Your School __________________________

Local resident Please tell us __________________________

Other Please tell us __________________________

Please return this form to;

The Chair of Governors,Gomersal St Marys CE (Voluntary Aided) Primary School,Shirley Avenue,Gomersal BD19 4NA

Or you can e-mail comments to:[email protected]

In each case, please head your communication VC CONSULTATION
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

Documents

Gomersal St. Mary's CE (A) Primary School Consultation Document