The future developments of Park Hill Infant & Junior Schools November 2010

Overview of the meeting Introductions Purposes of the meeting Primary Strategy – Council Policy and overview of the consultation process Information on the options Questions and comments Next steps

There are four possible options for the future organisation of the schools: Option 1: Amalgamation Option 2: Federation Option 3: Expand the Junior school and stay as two separate schools Option 4: Stay as we are

Option 1: Amalgamation Extract from the Local Authority’s Transforming Croydon Schools Cabinet Committee paper on 21 September 2010 Parent confidence in the continued delivery of a high quality education for their child throughout the whole of the primary phase is likely to be strengthened. Under single leadership and governance, there are likely to be educational advantages to planning the best possible use of the site, facilities and staff resources. Curriculum delivery, teaching and learning arrangements and systems for tracking children’s progress can be planned and delivered from a broader base of staff skills and experience. An all through primary school has additional means of reducing discontinuity at points of transition between classes or key stages. A common set of school policies for behaviour, home school liaison and other policy matters across the primary phase is educationally desirable and more readily delivered where both infant and junior phases are under single leadership. One larger school budget will increase the flexibility and range of options for governors and leadership in deciding how best to take forward school priorities and planned improvements to children‘s education. Parents would apply for a reception place; their child would continue through the school up until year 6.

Option 1: Amalgamation - timetable What / WhenWhoSeptOctNovDecJanFebMarApr Report to Transforming Croydon Schools (TCS) Cabinet Committee for approval to go to consultation LA Consultation with key stakeholders Time period: 6 school weeks 7/10/10 – 25/11/10 All Joint meeting of Infant & Junior Governing Bodies (GB) to review outcome of consultation and vote on whether they wish to proceed to the statutory process of amalgamation Meeting date: 02/12/10 GB TCS Cabinet Committee to: - grant approval to apply to Secretary of State (SoS) for exemption from competition Meeting date: 22/11/10 LA Apply to Secretary of State for exemption from competition. Average response time: 6 weeks LA TCS Cabinet Committee to: - review outcome of consultation - approval to publish statutory proposals and notices, (if exemption is granted from SoS) Meeting date: 12/01/11 LA Key: LA: Local AuthorityGB: Governing BodyTCS: Transforming Croydon Schools

Option 1: Amalgamation – timetable continued… What / WhenWhoSeptOctNovDecJanFebMarApr Publish notice in local newspaper. Schools to display notice on school gates for duration of notice period. Representation period: 6 weeks LA & Sch Creation of Temporary Governing Body LA & Sch Refer proposal to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) for decision. Average response time: 6 weeks LA Prepare Job Description for new Headteacher Temp GB Publish advert/Application period Temp GB Recruitment of Headteacher* Temp GB Key: LA: Local AuthorityGB: Governing BodySch: SchoolsOSA: Office of the Schools Adjudicator * Interviews for the Headteacher would need to be held during the first week of April to ensure that the resignation period is met.

Option 2: Federation Key points on Federation Both schools would remain separate and would continue to receive individual budgets and have separate Headteachers. The Infant School remains a community school. The junior School remains a foundation school Depending on the type of Federation, there could be either a joint or separate governing body. The schools agree to work together for the benefit of all pupils and their school communities; deciding/setting out for themselves what resources are to be shared between the schools: e.g. staff, teaching, ICT, sports facilities, green space/field. There is also a possibility to share budgets. Timetable for a federation is led by both schools; both schools are the decision-makers in the final decision to become a federation.

Option 2: Federation There are two possible options for federation; these are a ‘hard’ governance federation and a ‘soft’ governance federation: Hard Governance Federation (HGF) Soft Governance Federation (SGF) Governing Body A single, joint governing body which would represent both schools and have all the powers that a normal governing body would have. Each school has it’s own Governing Body, but the Federation has joint governance/strategic committees with delegated powers Statutory process required Yes. HGF are established using Federation Regulations made under Section 24 Education Act 2002 Yes. SGF are established using Federation Regulations made under Section 24 Education Act 2002 Common Goals All schools share common goals through SLA’s and protocols; having a single governing body allows for efficient, streamlined decision making in all areas All schools share common goals through SLA’s and protocols; joint committees can make joint decisions in some areas, but not all Common budget No, but having a single governing body allows for prompt budgetary decision on matters relating to both schools No, but if joint strategic committees has delegated budgetary powers, they can make some decisions relating to both schools Shared staff Common management and appointments are agreed in a simple, effective manor. It is possible to have a single Headteacher for both schools or a Headteacher for each school. Common management and appointments is possible but there needs to have protocol/contract to underpin commitment to shared posts. Key: SLA: Service Level Agreement

Option 3: Expand the Junior school and stay as two separate schools Increasing demand for places in Croydon Temporary and permanent expansions Expansion of Infants in September 2010 School Strategy for Change Detailed Feasibility Study Issues for Discussion

Option 3: Expand the Junior school and stay as two separate schools - timetable What / WhenWhoSeptOctNovDecJanFebMar Report to Transforming Croydon Schools (TCS) Cabinet Committee for approval to go to consultation LA Consultation with key stakeholders Time period: 6 school weeks (7/10/10 – 25/11/10) All Joint meeting of Infant & Junior Governing Bodies (GB) to review outcome of consultation and vote on whether they wish to proceed to the statutory process of amalgamation Meeting date: 02/12/10 GB TCS Cabinet Committee to: - review outcome of consultation - approval to publish statutory proposals/notice Meeting date: 12/01/11 LA Publish notice in local newspaper. Schools to display notice on school gates for duration of notice period. Representation period: 4 weeks LA & Sch TCS Cabinet Committee to: - review outcome of representation - approval statutory proposals to expand Park Hill Juniors Meeting date: 16/03/11 LA Key: LA: Local AuthorityGB: Governing BodySch: Schools

Option 4: Stay as we are The Infant School remains a 3 form entry school, with admission number of 90, with a total of 270 pupils on site The Junior School remains a 2 form of entry school, with admission number of 60, with a total of 240 pupils on site Parents would need to apply for a Reception place and then apply again when their child is ready to enter Year 3 for one of the 60 places available in the Juniors Building works would be carried out to provide permanent accommodation for the Infant School The Junior School have agreed to admit all 120 pupils in 2011

Next steps… Questionnaire circulated on Friday 5 November Summary of questions and answers raised during public meetings sent to parents on Friday 12 November Questionnaires returned by 3:30pm on 25 November Comments can be made directly by ing: Consultation closes 25 November