Gosberton House School Consultation Meeting On 18 April 2016 to discuss Academy Conversion

GHS GOVERNORS GHS GOVERNORS We have a team of 9 people Mr Boor Miss Stanton Mrs Phillips Mrs Edwards Mrs McClements Mrs White Mrs Peck Mr Whitehead Mrs Webster

Mr Andy Breckon Chief Executive Officer Lincolnshire Educational Trust Ltd

Academy conversion: WHY are we considering it? Our school is a precious resource, a specialist provision. We need to future- proof it.

Academy conversion: HOW did we get to this point?  Letter from the Director for Children’s Services (Nov 2015) Children’s Services (Nov 2015)  Local Authority ‘efficiency savings’ and spending cuts ( 2016 Budget ) and spending cuts ( 2016 Budget )  DfE White Paper ( March 2016 ) - every school in England to convert - every school in England to convert to an Academy by to an Academy by 2020.

Academy conversion: HOW did we get to this point?  Information gathering: - DfE and Governor websites - DfE and Governor websites - Q/A session with specialist solicitor - Q/A session with specialist solicitor - Conference on Academy conversion - Conference on Academy conversion  Discussions with other Heads  Exploration of options: - Networking - Networking - Meetings with Lincolnshire Educational - Meetings with Lincolnshire Educational Trust Ltd Trust Ltd

Academy conversion: KEY QUESTIONS  What is best for our pupils (ie will greater control over our budget lead to greater benefits for teaching and learning)?  Will we be better off financially?  What additional responsibilities would we have as an Academy?  Do we have the capabilities and admin infrastructure?  If the majority of schools convert, what will it be like for those left behind?

What are Academies?  Academies are all-ability independent state schools.  Academies are at the heart of their communities, sharing facilities.  Running and funding costs are met by central government, not the LA.  All schools are expected to convert to Academies by 2020.

FUNDING PRINCIPLE A school should not be financially advantaged or disadvantaged by converting but will have greater freedom in how the Governing Body applies its budgeted funds. A school should not be financially advantaged or disadvantaged by converting but will have greater freedom in how the Governing Body applies its budgeted funds.

STRUCTURE & TERMINOLOGY The Governing Body is responsible for establishing the ACADEMY TRUST. The Academy Trust (or Academy Company) owns and runs the Academy. It is run by MEMBERS (similarly to ‘shareholders’) who have a STRATEGIC ROLE. Usually 3 or 4 members, incl HT (or PRINCIPAL) and Chair. The Members appoint GOVERNORS (also known as DIRECTORS or TRUSTEES). Governors are ‘directors’ at Companies House and ‘trustees’ of the Academy Trust. The ACADEMY GOVERNING BODY (or ACADEMY BOARD) manages the Academy on behalf of the Academy Trust. Day-to-day management remains with the PRINCIPAL (HT).

ACADEMY CONVERSION: There are different types of Academy: There are different types of Academy: ▪ Stand-alone Trust ( no longer an option ) ▪ Stand-alone Trust ( no longer an option ) ▪ Umbrella Trust (formal) ▪ Umbrella Trust (formal) ▪ Collaborative Partnership (informal) ▪ Collaborative Partnership (informal) ▪ Multi-Academy Trust (preferred) ▪ Multi-Academy Trust (preferred)

ACADEMY CONVERSION: Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) ▪ A single legal entity ▪ A single legal entity ▪ Schools (ie Academies) within the MAT share ▪ Schools (ie Academies) within the MAT share strategy and vision strategy and vision ▪ The schools are governed by one Trust and ▪ The schools are governed by one Trust and one Board of Directors. one Board of Directors. ▪ There is one master Funding Agreement with the ▪ There is one master Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State. Secretary of State. ▪ There are supplemental funding agreements for ▪ There are supplemental funding agreements for each school within the MAT. each school within the MAT. ▪ Each school has its own ‘Advisory Board’ and ▪ Each school has its own ‘Advisory Board’ and ‘Principal’ (HT) ‘Principal’ (HT)

ACADEMY CONVERSION: Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) ▪ Collaboration and accountability drive up school standards. ▪ Collaboration and accountability drive up school standards. ▪ MATs offer economies of scale ( contracts & services ) ▪ MATs offer economies of scale ( contracts & services ) ▪ The MAT employs all staff across the Trust ▪ The MAT employs all staff across the Trust ▪ The MAT manages staff and resources to meet ▪ The MAT manages staff and resources to meet the different needs of its individual schools. the different needs of its individual schools. ▪ Individual school budgets are ‘top-sliced’ to ▪ Individual school budgets are ‘top-sliced’ to support the MAT support the MAT ▪ The Lincolnshire Educational Trust Ltd is the ▪ The Lincolnshire Educational Trust Ltd is the MAT we wish to join. It is part of the University MAT we wish to join. It is part of the University of Lincoln. of Lincoln.

Why the Lincolnshire Educational Trust Ltd? After due consideration of the possible After due consideration of the possible options for conversion to academy status, options for conversion to academy status, the Governing Body unanimously decided the Governing Body unanimously decided that the Lincolnshire Educational Trust Ltd that the Lincolnshire Educational Trust Ltd offered the best option for future-proofing offered the best option for future-proofing the school, educationally and financially. the school, educationally and financially.

Why The Lincolnshire Educational Trust Ltd? ▪ Similar aims and vision to GHS, focused on teaching ▪ Similar aims and vision to GHS, focused on teaching and learning. and learning. ▪ To protect our unique and specialist education ▪ To protect our unique and specialist education (ie autism-specific not generic) (ie autism-specific not generic) ▪ Freedom for our excellent headteacher to continue ▪ Freedom for our excellent headteacher to continue to lead, within a framework of strong governance. to lead, within a framework of strong governance. ▪ Financial stability with budget autonomy ▪ Financial stability with budget autonomy (the LET Board delegates financial decisions to (the LET Board delegates financial decisions to each individual school within the Trust). each individual school within the Trust).

Why The Lincolnshire Educational Trust Ltd? ▪ Aspiration – the University of Lincoln offers ▪ Aspiration – the University of Lincoln offers enhanced educational opportunities that could enhanced educational opportunities that could be tailored to the needs of our pupils. be tailored to the needs of our pupils. ▪ Development: enable the school to develop so ▪ Development: enable the school to develop so that it can best meet the needs of present and that it can best meet the needs of present and future pupils. future pupils. ▪ Research opportunities. ▪ Research opportunities. ▪ Networks: maintain our local and national networks ▪ Networks: maintain our local and national networks and access wider networks, including internationally, and access wider networks, including internationally, helping the school to drive-up standards. helping the school to drive-up standards.

WHERE are we in the conversion process? ▪ Register an interest online (Dec 2015) ▪ Register an interest online (Dec 2015) ▪ Information-giving (ongoing): ▪ Information-giving (ongoing): - letter to parents, carers & staff - letter to parents, carers & staff - School Newsletter & Website - School Newsletter & Website ▪ Meeting of GB to pass a formal resolution to proceed with conversion and to apply to join The Lincolnshire Educational Trust Ltd (March 2016) ▪ Meeting of GB to pass a formal resolution to proceed with conversion and to apply to join The Lincolnshire Educational Trust Ltd (March 2016) ▪ Formal application to the DfE ▪ Formal application to the DfE ▪ Consultation with staff, parents, community, unions (ongoing) ▪ Consultation with staff, parents, community, unions (ongoing)

ACADEMY CONVERSION Where next? Timescale? Timescale?

ACADEMY CONVERSION Your questions and views