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Join the consultation on the proposed conversion of Moordown St. John's CE VA Primary School to an academy and the establishment of the Bournemouth Septenary Trust. Learn about the benefits, governance arrangements, and aims of this transformative initiative. Your questions and feedback are crucial in shaping the future of education in the community.
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June 2015 Consultation on the Proposed Conversion of Moordown St. Johns CE VA Primary School to an Academy and establish the Bournemouth Septenary Trust
1. Welcome and Introductions2. The Proposal 3. Local Context and Background4. Aims of the Bournemouth Septenary Trust 5. Your opportunity to ask Questions6. Next Steps Agenda
The Proposal It is proposed that Moordown St. Johns CE VA Primary School convert to an Academy and establish an Umbrella Trust with St. Mark’s CE VA Primary, Winton Primary, Muscliff Primary, Kinson Primary, Kingsleigh Primary and St. Michael’s CE VC Primary Schools. Governors have passed a resolution to submit an application for Academy status, to consult with stakeholders on the above proposal and to advance plans for conversion, pending a final decision from Governors on whether the proposal is correct for the School at this time. The results of this consultation exercise will be a key component of the Governors decision.
The Local Context • MSJ has worked closely and effectively with Muscliff, St. Mark’s and St. Michael’s since 2006 as a Primary Learning Network; • For the last 2 years Moordown St. Johns CE Primary School has been working in a Local Collaborative Trust (LCT) called the Bournemouth Septenary Trust ( BST) with the 6 other schools listed above; • In 2013 the reduction of maintained ( LA) schools together with the growing pressure on public finances has forced the Bournemouth Local Education Authority to ask all schools to consider converting to Academies; • On-going shrinkage of Bournemouth LA support has led to the BST schools being increasingly dependent on each other for support and challenge; • In Bournemouth the number of Academies has increased significantly over the last 3 years and now includes all secondary and 9 primary schools ( with a further 13 by end of 2015)
What is an Academy? • An independent, state-funded school, which receives its funding directly from the DfE, rather than through a local authority. • They are run by an Academy Trust and have more freedom than other state schools over their finances, curriculum, length of terms and school days and do not need to follow national pay and conditions for teachers. • An Academy Trust is charitable company limited by guarantee which operates an academy. The Trust is run by a board of trustees (called ‘Members’) who have responsibility for the running of the academy as well as control over the land and other assets. • Academy Trusts must comply with company law as set out in the Companies Act 1985, - e.g. register with Companies House and file annual accounts. • However, they have ‘exempt charity’ status. This means they do not have to register with the Charity Commission and instead are monitored and regulated by EFA (an executive agency of the DfE).
Aims of the Bournemouth Septenary Trust The aims of the Bournemouth Septenary Trust are to; • Promote and secure outstanding school improvement • Innovate and raise standards for all pupils • Provide professional challenge and joint professional development • Ensure financial probity and sustainability For the benefit of the pupils, staff, governors and all stakeholders of the Trust schools
Bournemouth Septenary Trust – Governance Arrangements Diocese of Salisbury Diocese of Portsmouth & Winchester Umbrella Trust Board Winton Academy Trust St Michael’s C of E Academy Trust Kingsleigh Academy Trust St Mark’s C of E Academy Trust Moordown St John’s Academy Trust Kinson Academy Trust Muscliff Academy Trust
Governance Arrangements • Each School will be an independent autonomous Academy Trust with its own Members and Directors • Umbrella Trust comprised of Members and Directors from the Diocese and 7 Schools • Each School will retain its own Governing Body and Head teacher • Each School will collaborate through the Umbrella Trust by sharing expertise and harnessing greater purchasing power
Benefits to Moordown St. Johns CE VA Primary School • Freedom to develop the curriculum for our particular children; • Greater financial control; • Greater freedom to address school priorities; • To be an autonomous Academy able to retain the ethos and character of the school; • Greater ability to collaborate further and to drive school improvement through partnership working; • Identify savings from increased buying power that can be spent in the classrooms; • Sharing expertise from other partner schools; • Joint Staff professional development and career opportunities; • Exciting joint projects for pupils; • Shared teaching, teaching support ,office staff and governance expertise ; • Creation of networks for all key areas of school life; • Professional challenge and school evaluation that has raised standards and helped 1 school progress from RI to ‘Good’; • Savings in quality joint professional development; • Savings in shared purchasing ( 2014-15: £30,000 saved across 7 schools in resources and contracts alone).
What will change • The Academy Trust funding received direct from Education Funding Agency and not from Bournemouth Borough Council (BBC) • Financial year September to August • Requirement to have annual accounts audited • Governance and accountability arrangements • Trust’s ability to share expertise and continue to drive up standards in teaching and learning. • Potential to secure economies of scale in procurement and direct savings to classroom
What will not change • Start and end time of School day • School staff and their terms & conditions of employment • Term dates • School uniform • Admissions policy • We will still set our own Admissions criteria and work with Bournemouth Borough Council admissions • Participation with other local schools ( not in the BST) and with the Council in whatever capacity they exist • Ethos of the School • Governing Body and Head Teacher responsible for running the School
Progress to date • Appointed Legal advisors and project managers to support the conversion; • Project Plan drawn up covering all key work streams targeting 1st November conversion date; • Steering Group set up to monitor progress and make key decisions; • Consultation with the community and key stakeholders to run from 1st June to 26th June; • Governing Body meetings planned for July to consider evidence and make final decision.
Summary • Umbrella Trust will allow the Schools in the existing collaborative Trust to take partnership working to the next level for the benefit of staff and pupils; • Schools encouraged to convert by BBC; • No changes to school day, term dates or uniform; • Schools can retain their individuality whilst working together to improve the provision for all children and teaching and learning and identify efficiencies.
Next Steps • Consultation closing date 26th June 2015 • Please submit your views through the website or returning the form included the consultation leaflet to the School office . • Consultation report of findings produced for review by Governors and made available to staff and parents. • Governor meeting in July to review consultation and key legal documents to establish the Trust and make final decision. • TUPE transfer of Staff planned for September/October 2015.
