academy presentation

Academy ConsultationMeeting onTuesday 18th of March 2014Held at St Marys Catholic Primary School

Prayer & Introductions

Mr Carl Beardon – Chair of Governors (SM)Mrs Alice Reeve– Governor (CG)

Father Patrick Brennan (SM & CG)Mr Steve Breeze – Head Teacher (SM)

Mr Michael Burrowes – Head Teacher (CG)Mr David Carne – Executive Business Manager

CG)Mrs Clare Yates – Finance & Admin Manager

(SM)

Welcome

• Introductions•What is an Academy?•What is happening in other schools?•Academy myths•Why we are looking to become an

Academy•What might be different?•What would remain the same?

Welcome

• The consultation process• The conversion process explained•An opportunity to ask any questions

What is an Academy?•A publically funded

independent school that provides a first-class education• A Charitable Company set up for the

purpose of providing Education• A school that is directly accountable to

the Department for Education rather than the Local Authority

What is an Academy?

•A School that is free from Local Authority control and receives additional funds for providing the services previously provided by the Local Authority•A school that has additional

freedoms when compared with a mainstream school

Types of Academy?

Type 1 Sponsored• Failing schools• Financial sponsor brought in•Address under-performance•New buildings•Often big chains •Often more like a business

Types of Academy?

Type 2 Sponsored•Under-performing schools• Educational sponsor brought

in•Address under-performance•Often big chains, or schools •Often more like a business

Types of Academy?

Type 3 Convertor• Top performing schools•Mostly Good / Outstanding•Mostly good exam results•No pressure to convert•Opportunity to take

advantage of new freedomsTHIS IS THE TYPE OF ACADEMY WE ARECONSULTING ON

BECOMING

What is a Multi-Academy Company?

•A collection of two or more schools who unite under one Board of Directors to work together to provide high quality education for all their pupils• Set up with strict controls on

membership of Board of Directors by the Archdiocese of Birmingham


•One Board of Directors works across both schools• Each school has its own

Academy Committee• There are parent and staff

representatives on both the Board of Directors and the Academy Committees for each school


Board of Directors

School 1 School 2 School 3

What is the current structure for comparison?

Local Authority

School 1 School 2 School 3

Myths about Academies

•All Academies are failing schools with poor performance•Academies are selective

schools and can charge fees•Academies do not support

pupils with Special Educational Needs


•We will have to change uniform if we become and Academy•Academies are sponsored

by Businesses•Academies can’t get

support from the Local Authority


•Multi-Academies have one Executive Head Teacher over all the schools•Academies do not have

parent Governors•Academies have to change

the school day and term times


• Each school has to have a new name if it becomes an Academy•Academies have to give

their staff less favourable terms of employment•We will get a brand new

building as an Academy

How many Academies arethere?

•As of 1st February 2014 there were 3,657 Academies in England• Just over 15% of all schools in England

are Academies

Rate of conversions

2010 2011 2012 20130%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

PrimarySecondary

Source: Department for Education Open Academies Publication list February 2014

Do we have to become an Academy?

No!

We are not being forced into becoming an Academy.

Why we think we should become an Academy?

As a Multi-Academy Company we will enhance

Catholic Education in Cannock and ensure it

continues for the long term future


We are stronger together!


By working together as a Primary and Secondary school we will make the learning journey for our

pupils more seemless


We can improve transition for our pupils and give them new learning

experiences


An Academy has the Freedom to act in the best

interests of its existing pupils and those to come


No more red tape from the Local Authority, we can respond faster!


An Academy has different funding arrangements

which mean it has greater control of how the pupil’s

money is spent


We believe we can deliver a better deal for our pupils if we are in control

of our budget and resources.


Local Authority support is diminishing significantly, there is a concern soon

there will be no support, or we will have to buy it


We believe the traditional role of the Local Authority is at risk and that we

need to act in response to that.

What is the view of theArchdiocese of Birmingham?

• The Catholic Education service had made it clear that they expect schools to consider the best way to secure Catholic education for the future• The Diocese are fully

supportive of our proposal to become a Multi-Academy Company

What is the view of theLocal Authority?

• The Local authority have made it clear that they are neutral on schools becoming Academies, and would look to support schools whatever decision they made• The Local Authority has recently set

up a joint venture with CAPITA to provide services to Academies

What is the view of theother Catholic schools?

•All our partner primary schools have been involved in the process of deciding whether they want to become part of a MAC• For various reasons the other schools

do not feel now is the right time for them•We have made it clear they can join

later if they wish

What is different in anAcademy?•An Academy has greater financial

freedom to spend ALL its funding to best meet the needs of pupils•An Academy has greater freedom to

create a curriculum which better suits the needs of its pupils•An Academy can employ staff on different

contracts to better suit the needs of the pupils and ensure they get the best staff

What is different in an Academy?

The local authority currently top slices £127,803 of the funding allocated to

our schools to provide servicesFina

ncia

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anta

ges

What is different in anAcademy?

•As an Academy we would receive £160 per pupil to provide these services (an additional £47 per pupil)

•An Academy can buy the services that suit its circumstances and needs of its pupils with this money

St Mary’s Cardinal Griffin

£34,720 £146,880

£181,600

Fina

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What is different in an Academy?

LA Services Vs. Academy Services

ONE SIZE FITS ALL SUPPORT FITS NEEDFina

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We can decide what services meet our pupils needs and use the money from

the top slice to pay for them

What do our pupils need?

Fina

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ges


Fina

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Economies of scale

We would also have greater buying power as two schools to negotiate better deals, meaning more money is available to spend on pupils


Educ

ation

al A

dvan

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s

Currently much of our Curriculum is dictated centrally and doesn’t always meet the needs of our pupils

Curriculum freedoms


Logi

stica

l Adv

anta

ges Freedom to appoint

staff on different contracts would mean we could share staff in future or be more flexible about Educational provision

Staffing freedoms


Logi

stica

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Sharing resources

We could enhance what we already do in terms of making use of each other’s facilities and resources


Pote

ntial

Dis

adva

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es Additional work

We would have to do more accounting and financial administration


Pote

ntial

Dis

adva

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es New ResponsibilitiesWe would have to

take responsibility for those services which the Local Authority

Provided

We will have a lot to learn in the first year


Pote

ntial

Dis

adva

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es Being on our ownWe would need to make sure we have sufficient support to replace the comfort blanket of the Local

Authority.

It’s a brave new world!

What is the same in anAcademy?

• Each school retains its Catholic Ethos• A commitment to

High Academic Standards

• Parental and staff representation on Board of Directors and Academy Committees• Our relationship with other Catholic

schools

What is the same in anAcademy? • Staff continue to be

employed on the same terms and conditions of employment• We will still have the same uniforms in

October as we did in September• The Local Authority still retains authority

for some things

What is the process forconsultation? • Consultation period

runs until 1st May 2014

• Website with FAQs link from both schools’ websites

• Responses in writing by email or letter

• Questions or comments

What is the process forconversion? • Submit application to Department

for Education• Consultation• TUPE process with staff• Decision whether to proceed• DFE issue Academy Order• Establish Academy Trust• Sign Funding Agreement• Open Academy 1st October 2014

Questions?

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