HORRINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

1. HORRINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL Considering Academy Status

2. Why should we apply for Academy Status now? • DfE policy to encourage all schools to become Academies • Horrington wishes to choose its destiny • Outstanding OFSTED report • Central government policies are reducing LA grants and control of education

3. Who will make the decision? • Governors will make decision • DfE will decide whether to allow the application and if they agree will sign a funding agreement with the trust governors. • In line with their responsibilities any decision will be based solely on whether Academy status best serves the needs of the school, not on broader rights/wrongs of the academy program • Only governors can make the decision to apply for Academy status. • After consulting with stakeholders • Staff • Parents • Pre School • Professional associations including Trade Unions • Local community

4. Legalities • Status of a company limited by guarantee and registered at Companies House (Academies are exempt charities) • Governors will be directors of the company with personal liability limited to £10 • £25,000 grant awarded to each school opting to consider academy status – the money to be spent on legal and statutory compliance expertise. • Funding agreement with the DfE – will continue for at least seven years or indefinitely with seven years notice

5. Land and Assets • School would acquire a long lease (125yrs) over the buildings and land. • DfE created an advisory document Land Transfer Advice Version 8.0 July 2011- see DfE website for details • Pre School is a separate entity and would enter into a new agreement with the Academy Trust to rent space in the school buildings.

6. Curriculum and Admissions • A rigid new curriculum is anticipated from DfE • Horrington would prefer to keep autonomy to engage the pupils well and adopt curriculum changes to suit the school and pupils. • Governing body will be responsible for ensuring quality of provision and challenging and monitoring performance. • Admissions - Horrington would opt to maintain the LA as the admissions authority.

7. Type of Academy • Governors wish to consider the correct model to opt for • Various models to choose from • Single Academy Model • Collaborative Partnership • Umbrella Trust Model • Traditional Multi Academy Trust

8. Staffing and Finance • All staff would be transferred under protected employment (TUPE) arrangements. • It is not anticipated that the budget will change significantly on becoming an Academy. • Major capital purchases can be bid for from a DfE fund. • Currently school purchases goods and services via LA. • Services required will be bought in by the Academy either by • joining a co-operative for purchasing • buying services from LA • buying directly from the supplier

9. Frequently Asked Questions and Answers • CURRICULUM/ADMISSIONS - How would the change affect the standards of learning? - Standards will remain constant with the same expectations the staff already hold. • SEN - We could/will eventually lose all supports and services provided by LEA which will effect all pupils in school and especially those with special needs? - SEN is staying with LA and we would apply for funds in the same way as we do currently • STAFFING - Parents and staff will want to be reassured about pay and conditions of service for staff. - TUPE will mean that all pay and conditions remain the same as they are now.

10. Frequently Asked Questions and Answers continued • FINANCES - Academy status may work for large primary and secondary schools but does a small rural school like Horrington have the infrastructure to cope with being ‘a business’? • An Academy will be able to look for better, more economic service providers where market forces provide value for money. Current staff member is a qualified accountant and business manager. • GOVERNORS POWERS - If the majority of staff at Horrington feel that we do not want to become an Academy will the governors value our opinion? • Horrington consultation process is being carried out thoroughly. Governors will be listening to all opinions. However the decision is for the governors alone to make. • OTHER - Horrington has achieved an ’Outstanding’ Ofsted report without being an Academy, why become an Academy? • No guarantee for anything in the future LA may not exist at all in a few years time. Alternatively we could wait and find ourselves swept up into a Group Academy with several under performing schools with conditions set by DfE.

11. Where do we go from here? • After consultation period • Governors meet to make decision on March 27th • If ‘no’ to Academy Status, then no further action will be necessary • If ‘yes’, then the following processes will occur:- • Communication of decision to stakeholders • Submit application to convert to DfE • Inform LA and start TUPE consultation and negotiations • Commence financial business planning

12. If Application is approved by DfE • Register the Academy • Establish Academy Trust and register with Companies House • Agree land and building leasing arrangement and asset/property transfer arrangements • Ensure all consultation has been completed • Sign 7 year Funding Agreement • Open as an Academy

13. Horrington Governors • Thank you for attending our meeting