Consultation Document
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Introduction
1. Sydney Russell’s governing body has decided to embark upon a process which may lead to conversion to academy status. The governing body passed a resolution to begin the process on 14th October. This resolution starts a period of investigation and consultation – it is not a final decision to convert. Any final decision would only be made after a further governors’ meeting at the end of the consultation period. The target date for conversion to take effect is 1st February 2015.
2. The proposal is that Sydney Russell converts into an academy under the umbrella of Partnership Learning, the local charitable trust which already runs Riverside School and will shortly open Riverside Bridge (Special) School and Riverside Primary School.
3. The formal consultation period will run from Monday 8th December 2014 to 12 noon on Friday 16th January 2015. During this period Governors will give all key stakeholders the opportunity to give their views and ask questions, including all staff and their recognised trade unions, parents, pupils, local schools and others.
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The Background
4. Governors took the decision to embark upon the conversion process for two main reasons:
i. The opportunities which academy status within Partnership Learning will give to play a leading role in a growing group of local secondary, primary and special schools.
ii. The opportunity to enable Partnership Learning to be approved by the DfE as a local academy sponsor for schools in difficulty.
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Opportunity to enable Partnership Learning to sponsor schools in difficulty
5. Subject to Sydney Russell converting to academy status, Partnership Learning has been approved by the DfE as an academy sponsor. This means that if any local schools are put into special measures by Ofsted and required to become academies there is, for the first time, a local sponsor solution available.
6. As a newly-approved academy sponsor, Partnership Learning has been put forward by the DfE as the preferred sponsor for Thames View Junior School’s conversion to academy status, following its Ofsted Grade 4. This has been welcomed by the school’s governing body and headteacher as their preferred local solution.
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Partnership Learning
7. Partnership Learning is a local charitable trust which set up and runs Riverside School. Its trustees include the director of a charity which runs alternative educational provision for young people, two recently retired local authority school advisers and a finance expert.
8. Partnership Learning is committed to playing a full part in the local family of schools and adhering to:
– National pay and conditions
– Local union agreements
– Local Authority pupil admissions criteria
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Implications for Staff – Teaching and Support
9. No change in terms and conditions of employment, working hours, holidays, salary, pay scales, pay policy or pension arrangements -
Frequently Asked Questions
10. Has the decision to convert to an Academy already been made?
No. Until the consultation has been completed and everyone’s views have been obtained a decision will not be made. The governing body have to weigh up the pros and cons of academy conversion.
11. Will the governing body in the future be made up in the same way?
All members of the current governing body will be invited to join a new Local Governing Body for Sydney Russell, and the Chair will become a member of Partnership Learning’s Board of Directors.
12. Is the decision being driven by financial concerns?
No – academies are funded using exactly the same local funding formula as all the other schools in the borough. The only additional funding is a grant of £140 per student – however, much of this will be needed to pay for services previously provided by the Local Authority. There is, therefore, very little financial incentive to convert nowadays, unlike in the early days of academy conversions.
13. How will staff pensions be affected?
Teaching staff will continue to be members of the national TPS (Teachers’ Pension Scheme) with no change to contributions or benefits.
Support staff pensions are provided by the local authority. The school will apply for Admitted Body status to the scheme and all support staff will continue to be members (unless opted-out) with no change to contributions or benefits.
14. Will the school’s name change?
No
15. Will there be any change in pupil admissions policy?
No – the school will adhere to the Borough Admissions Criteria and be part of the borough admissions process with no change to entry criteria.
16. Who will be the employer of the staff?
All current staff employed at the school will have their employment transferred from the local authority to Partnership Learning. All their current terms and conditions and salary rights will be transferred and protected.
17. Will terms and conditions for staff change?
Governors, and the Trustees of Partnership Learning, recognise the importance of all staff to the life and ethos of the school. Good employee relationships are seen as the bedrock to the continuing improvement of outcomes for children. There will be no change in staff terms and conditions. National and local pay and conditions agreements will continue to be honoured.
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Responding to the consultation
Governors are keen to hear the views of as many stakeholders as possible – all staff and their recognised trade unions, parents, pupils, local schools and others.
The formal consultation period runs from Monday 8th December 2014 to 12 noon on Friday 16th January 2015.
All stakeholders are invited to give their views on the academy conversion proposal, and to ask any questions they may have, at any time during the consultation period, by email to:
academyconsultation@sydney-r.bardaglea.org.uk
or by post to the school addressed to ‘Academy Consultation’.
There will also be a drop-in information session open to all, on Tuesday 16th December in the Sixth Form area at the school from 6.00 – 8.00pm.