Our Church School Family to develop ‘a vision and strategy for the coming changes’

The role of schools with a Christian Foundation is crucial in our society

OfSTED Performance

Section 48 Performance

Today All schools are facing tough decisions – budgets staffing a world where LA support is being cut centrally

The Future with the Diocesan Board of Education We aim to: facilitate stronger church school partnerships maintain and continue to improve standards of educational provision for all ages share excellence in teaching and learning, leadership and governance across the Diocese

Vision & Strategy The Diocesan Board of Education retains statutory policy role. maintain our close family of Christian schools together schools are not isolated facilitate the transition in as easy and cost effective manner for our schools minimise the burden of responsibility on individual Governors and Governing Bodies working together at managing the risks associated with independence

The Vision (an illustration) An Umbrella Trading Company formed by The Diocesan Board of Education The Board of Education still fulfils its statutory functions School Multi Academy Company Single Academy Company Service Provider(s) for HR, Payroll, Legal, Insurance and more Service Provider(s) procured for all to access Each Group Academy Trust and each school becomes a member of the Umbrella Trading Company with the DBE and elects its Board

Benefits (1) trading company will enable access to good quality contracts with service provider/s for all minimises costs and maximises mutual support less administration and bureaucracy school level each school / academy remains independent schools are not isolated enables desired degree of local and wider collaboration without compromising local autonomy

Benefits (2) trading company (and its profits, if any) belong to its members trading company acts as a mechanism for schools to offer services to one another and also can also encompass non Church schools will maintain and enhance our Church School Family will minimise the burden of responsibility on individual Governors and Governing Bodies

Time Line January 2011 – Advice to all schools on process for conversion February 2011 – DBE commission legal opinion on options March 2011 – Meeting with DfE in London to get approval of principle April 2011 – DBE set up “Task Group” to move option forward May 2011 – Conference to launch Vision (today) June to August 2011 – Task Group to flesh out the details. Collect expressions of interest from Schools and clusters. Individual / group meetings with schools. Autumn Term 2011 – School Area meetings to update on progress and draft proposals for further consultation. Select provider(s). Initial wave of schools to commit to convert. Spring Term 2012 – Launch and “Go Live” with over arching company and first wave of schools and trust groups Summer Term 2012 – Support further schools and trust groups to convert.

If this is for the good of the school, community and education it may be the right thing – but not if it disadvantages someone else or somewhere else within the community

‘ Nourish those of faith, Encourage those of other faiths, Challenge those, who have no faith’ (The late Lord Runcie)