Updated 3rd February 2012
The Governors at Colston’s Primary, along with many other schools, have been considering its future and researching the benefits and risks of converting to an Academy. A vital part of that process is to explain to our school community what it might mean, answer questions, listen to views and use this information to inform our deliberations.
We started this process last June, and the initial feedback received, and discussion in the Working Group of staff, parents and governors, has been published on our school website. You can still see this in the section below.
Today (3rd Feb 2012) the Governors are issuing a Briefing Paper for the school community to start the next phase of consultation. It sets out many of the issues and identifies the risks associated with either deciding to change or to maintain current status. It is being emailed via parentmail to registered parents. You can also get a copy at the school office, or you download it by clicking here. (.pdf file)
We want to hear your views by email (colstons.p@bristol.gov.uk) or letter, or in person at one of the sessions we have organised. There is a form for feedback, should you wish to use it, found by clicking here. (Word file)
The final decision on conversion will be made by Governors following consultation with parents and the local community, according to the following timetable:
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3rd February |
Briefing Paper issued |
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3rd Feb – 2nd March |
Comments invited via email to colstons.p@bristol.gov.uk or by letter to the school office. |
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20th - 24th February |
After school drop-in sessions for parents every day, with staff and governors 3.30 pm in the Library – more details will follow in school newsletters. |
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Weds 29th February |
An evening meeting at the school for parents and community, at 7.30 pm |
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Thurs 15th March |
Governors meeting to consider feedback and decide on future status. |
We look forward to hearing your views.
Updated 12th October 2011
The Governing Body of Colston’s Primary School has decided to undertake a comprehensive review of the potential benefits and risks of becoming an Academy, and has set up a working group including parent governors and staff to lead this.
Following the initial consultation period the working group has met to discuss and prepare a document detailing people's questions and concerns, and issuing some information in response. The document is available as an Excel document or as a PDF file.
Right click on the link and choose to 'Save Target As...'
Although only sixteen responses were received, the Working Group
A copy of the original letter sent to the community can be found below:
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Dear parents, carers, pupils and staff,
The Government announced last year that it intended to make Academy status available to all schools in England. Academies are schools which are not maintained by their local authority. Academies are funded directly by central government and manage their affairs independently.
What is Colston’s Primary School doing about this?
The Governing Body of Colston’s Primary School has decided to undertake a comprehensive review of the potential benefits and risks of becoming an Academy, and has set up a working group including parent governors and staff to lead this.
At this very early stage the working group would like to gather the initial views of parents and the Colston’s community about Academy status. The group anticipates that this comprehensive review will analyse all of the potential benefits and risks thoroughly and will present its findings and any recommendations to the Governing Body and then the Colston’s community for a further round of consultation, including parental meetings, later this year.
You can send us your views, anonymously if you wish, by printing out and returning the reply form (Word document) the school office, or to colstons.p@bristol.gov.uk You can also comment using the Online Contact Form
The working group would appreciate receiving your comments by the end of the mid-term break, on Friday 4th June.
The working group’s principal question will be whether becoming an Academy would improve the outcomes for our children, families and staff. It anticipates that any decision on the overall impact will need to balance a range of potential benefits and risks. This letter explains some of the implications of becoming an Academy - what could change, what would stay the same. You can find further information from the Department for Education at http://www.education.gov.uk/academies
How would Academy status affect school funding?
It is difficult to forecast how school funding will generally be affected by the economic climate and government policy, but as an Academy our source of funding and the amount would change, as would our costs.
Our main income would be the same as we currently receive through the local authority. However, we would also receive a Local Authority Central Spend Equivalent Grant (LACSEG),which represents our ‘share’ of the money the local authority currently uses to fund its centrally provided education services. We would need to use some of this additional funding to buy services that are now provided by the local authority. Many other schools that have become Acadamies have found that that the net financial benefit to the School is significant, at least in the short term. The future level of the LACSEG is likely to decrease but in the short term it would provide some cushion for a school budget under great pressure. With careful planning, a significant injection of funding could be used to impact significantly on school provision for an extended period of time. The working party also needs to consider the future quality of provision of local authority services, which could decline as other schools opt to become Acadamies.
How would Academy Status affect school governance?
As an Academy, the school would be more self-governing than it is at present. We already have a certain degree of autonomy, for example, in designing large parts of our curriculum (which could be extended) and in managing our own premises budgets. With additional autonomy would come additional responsibility, and we would need to investigate whether we have managerial and administrative capacity for this.
As an Academy we would remain subject to Ofsted supervision and would be ultimately accountable to the Secretary of State. Our admission procedure would remain the same, as part of the Local Authority system. We would not have to change our name, although we would be free to do so.
As an Academy, the school can be governed differently, depending on the model selected. The Governing Body would continue to be responsible for the strategic and day to day governance of the school. However, the ultimate authority in the school would be a Trust. Its membership can include Governors, Staff, Parents and members of the local community. The working group will consider possible models as part of its work.
How would Academy status affect the staff?
If we were to become an Academy, the staff would be directly employed by the school rather than the Local Authority, and the terms & conditions of those staff transferring would be legally protected. Beyond this the school would be able to employ future staff on different terms and, should finances allow, enhance the conditions of current staff. The skills, talents and experience of our staff are a major reason why we are a successful school, and it will be important to be able to attract and retain staff in the future. The working group will consult closely with the staff and union representatives.
How does Academy status affect our role in the Community?
A potential risk is that as individual schools become Academies, the coherence of educational provision under the overall management of the local authority could be lost. This might happen if decisions taken by one school impinged upon or disadvantaged other schools or if the financial arrangements led to some schools gaining at the expense of others. The working group is already working with other local schools to foster a common approach to deciding upon Academy status, and since January the headteacher has attended many meetings with headteachers of other schools to discuss a wide range of ways of working together, either as Academies or as LA maintained schools. The working group will take careful consideration of the need to continue to exist as a school playing an active part in our local cluster of schools.
What next?
It is difficult to summarise all of the potential benefits and risks at this stage of our research, but by providing this information we hope that it helps you to give us your initial views. Our consultation will be a two stage process, using your initial views to inform our research, presenting any recommendations and conclusions we reach to you so that you can play a full and active part in this challenging process.
Once again, you can send us your views, anonymously if you wish, by printing out and returning the reply form (Word document) the school office, or to colstons.p@bristol.gov.uk You can also comment using the Online Contact Form
Yours faithfully,
Maddy Kent (Head Teacher)
Nick Mayfield & Rob Davies (Co-chairs of Governors)
