1. Academy Consultation June 2011

2. Purpose of meeting Prospective or current parents Governing Body official consultation Consultation period finishes on 16 th June Have already invited written reponse at any time until 16 th Have already held a number of consultation sessions

3. Purpose of meeting Consultation process is to allow parents / carers, staff, pupils and other local partners to understand the proposal, ask questions and express views All views expressed tonight will be minuted and formally considered by the Governing Body Headteacher, Governors and members of school Senior Leadership Team present and available at the end of the meeting

4. Format of meeting Presentation by Graham Aldridge (Headteacher) and Stella Owen (Chair of Governing Body) Opportunity for questions

5. What are Academies? They are state funded schools They operate outside the framework of the Local Authority They are instead accountable to the Secretary of State for Education They control 100% of their budget share “Old” Academies introduced by Labour, mostly in inner city areas “Converter” Academies introduced by Coalition Government

6. What we want What we all want for the pupils of Range High School is: High quality teaching and learning leading to academic success A broad curriculum model allowing personal choice, involvement and progression Care which allows the development of each child as an individual

7. Why are we considering Academy status? The national landscape has changed Budget cuts at LA and school level A contraction and re-definition of the LA service to schools The status quo is not an option All Sefton schools encouraged to look at their status and relationship to the LA by Peter Morgan, Director of Children’s Services The status quo is not an option

8. Why are we considering Academy status? The role of the Headteacher and the Governing Body is to survey the landscape, assess options and recommend best course of action for this school and its pupils

9. The Governing Body’s approach No pre-existing ideological bias Thorough Objective With the best interest of the school in the long term at heart Taking account of views of all stakeholders Hasn’t completed this process yet

10. The Governing Body’s approach Has considered our ethos as an inclusive comprehensive serving our local community Has considered the position of pupils with Special Needs Has considered the financial position of school Has modelled the effect of finances on curriculum delivery and staffing levels

11. The Governing Body’s approach Has considered our relationship with other schools Has listened to all views so far conveyed to it Has considered the role of the Governing Body in a potential Academy

12. An inclusive comprehensive school serving our local community Academies have to follow the local Admissions Code There would be no change to our Admissions Criteria There would be no selection by ability

13. An inclusive comprehensive school serving our local community There would be no change to our provision for SEN pupils SEN funding mechanism remains the same in an Academy We want Sefton to continue to designate us a Resourced Unit for pupils with disability

14. The financial position of the school The Academy model would give the school control over 100% of its budget This model allows us to make decisions about our priorities and finances in a climate of shrinking budgets

15. Our relationship to Sefton It is predominantly and increasingly a “commissioning” relationship We currently purchase most of our services from Sefton and would continue to do so

16. Sefton’s charging model We currently already pay for.. Advisory and Inclusion Service (SAIS) Central Purchasing Creditors and Debtors Education Business Partnership (EBP) Financial Service Support Legal Payroll

17. Sefton’s charging model Personnel advice ICT SIMS Security Service Premises / Technical Services

18. Involvement of private companies As a community school through Sefton LA we have to purchase some services through a third party private provider For example ICT services are provided through Arvato and Capita Community schools including Range can currently choose to purchase from third parties for many services, eg school meals

19. Sefton networks LA “School Improvement Service” is being cut back All LINCS schools have agreed that as a response to this we need to strengthen LINCS – the LINCS Company Subject leaders know already of value we get from LINCS This will expand and replace contraction in Sefton’s SI service

20. Our relationship to other schools in Sefton The LA provides us with no structured opportunities to work together Instead the schools have formed networks We will continue to work with other Formby schools, both primary and secondary as part of Forthright We will continue to work with other Sefton secondary schools as part of the LINCS network

21. Terms and conditions of staff Existing staff would transfer and their rights would be protected The Governing Body have passed a resolution that, if we became an Academy, there would be no detriment to prevailing national terms and conditions

22. Governance The size of the Governing Body would remain the same We would increase the number of staff Governors Half would be elected, as at present

23. Accountability An Academy continues to be accountable in law as does a maintained school “to anybody who has a legitimate interest” is accountable to the Secretary of State for Education rather than the LA Is accountable to OFSTED Is additionally accountable to the Charity Commission

24. Sponsors Converter Academies do not need sponsors We do not want to have a sponsor

25. Academy status Our proposal does not stem from a preconceived ideological bias It comes from an examination of our current situation and what advantages and disadvantages we perceive it to bring The major advantage is that it allows us to make decisions based on our own priorities with the full amount of our budget share