1. Our schools

2. The St Thomas a Becket Federation of Catholic Infant and Junior Schools
A CONSULTATION
Proposal: To amalgamate St Thomas a Becket Catholic Infant and Junior Schools and create an all-through Catholic primary school.

3. Public Consultation Evening
Introductions:
John McManus – Chair of Governors and governing body
Rachel Turner – Head Teacher
Geoff Taylor – Educational Consultant & note-taker
Marie Ryan – Director of Catholic Education in Arundel and Brighton
Our presentation intends covering the following areas:
Why amalgamate the Infant and Junior Schools now?
Potential benefits of amalgamation for our children, parents and carers
Potential benefits of amalgamation for our staff and the wider community.
Financial implications and spending
Additional sources of funding
The proposal.
What happens next?
Target Timeline: Expected key dates in the decision-making process.
How can you have your say?
Questions and answers.

4. Why amalgamate the Infant and Junior Schools now?
St Thomas a Becket Catholic Infant and Junior schools are two separate schools next door to each other which since September 2010 have become a hard federation.
Since September 2014 there has been one Head Teacher.
The schools have been working towards a primary model of leadership and governance.
Diocesan and local authority officers are supportive of the proposal to enable an improved school outcome.   

5. Why amalgamate the Infant and Junior Schools now?
The governors, Diocese of Arundel and Brighton and Local Authority believe that a change to the current organisation of St Thomas a Becket Infant and Junior Schools will:
Enable an agreed whole-school vision and set of Catholic values to contribute to the driving up of standards and the promotion of continuity.
Lead to sustained improvement in educational standards in all Key Stages,
Provide increased opportunities to build on and share expertise across Key Stages, centralising resources and supporting an enriched curriculum.
Align the school with Diocesan policy regarding all-through Primary Schools.

6. What are the potential benefits for our children?
Sharing one agreed vision and set of Catholic values to continue to drive up standards and promote continuity and progression of practice.
A consistent education philosophy and continuity of experience for children from when a child first enters the school until they move onto secondary education.
A more coherent delivery on the National Curriculum from Foundation Stage through to the end of Key Stage 2.
Sustaining and improving high quality teaching and learning, for example, by sharing planning, ideas, expertise and resources.
Learning experiences will be enhanced through a continued emphasis on high expectations and a enriched curriculum. The Federation has brought together our schools and this amalgamation will reinforce this still further.

7. What are the potential benefits for our children?
Greater ability to track pupil progress between Key Stages with a view to increasing pupil attainment and working together towards an outstanding judgement by ofsted
Consistent engagement with parent and carers across the primary phase.
Access to a wider range of facilities, activities and shared resources, which may not otherwise be available to a single individual school.
Seven uninterrupted years of education in one school
Increased opportunities for older pupils to take social responsibility for younger pupils in a variety of social and learning contexts, e.g. peer tutoring.

8. What are the potential benefits for parents and carers?
There will be one admission policy. Parents/carers would not need to make a second application for a junior place.
Closer contact with parents over a longer period of time and covering the full span of children’s primary education.
The same policies for both schools

9. What are the potential benefits for our staff and the wider community?
Staff would continue in their job as the school becomes a primary school. Proposed changes may present opportunities for staff who wish to work across the Key Stages.
The Governing Body remains the employer the employer. The change will not constitute a break in service or affect staff terms and conditions.
Allowing more teaching and learning resources to be shared across the Primary School will lead to reduced bureaucracy. There will be one budget and one school fund.
The recruitment and retention of staff
The provision of a wider range of leadership possibilities and continuing professional development for staff would help us to retain and attract high quality staff and may offer improved recruitment opportunities

10. What are the potential benefits for our staff and the wider community?
More opportunity to share functions across both schools would improve efficiency and could reduce some of the challenges faced by staff who carry multiple responsibilities.
The day-to-day operation of managing one budget will improve the financial management and administrative duties.
Greater flexibility in organising classes, deploying teaching and support staff and using curriculum resources, including buildings, more effectively.
Enable our schools to strengthen our performance and provide greater consistency in policies and practice.
One OFSTED inspection for one Primary School

11. What are the financial implications of amalgamation?
The financial arrangements governing school amalgamations are set out in the Schools Revenue Funding 2016 to 2017 Operational Guide, July A web link to the guidance is set out here:
School budgets are largely based on pupil numbers. However, as well as other factors that make up East Sussex’s funding formula is a lump sum for all East Sussex primary schools regardless of their size. St Thomas a Becket Schools currently each receive lump sum funding as separate schools. Should the amalgamation proceed the ‘new all-through School’ would eventually receive one lump sum. Funding protection will be applied for two years to enable the school to achieve the economies of scale from being one larger primary school.
Assuming there will be no changes to current financial arrangements governing school amalgamations and the proposal to amalgamate the two schools takes place on 1 September 2017:
in the year of the amalgamation the two schools keep their lump sums 2 x £142K
in the year after the amalgamation April 2018 to March 2019 – the school will get 85% of the combined lump sum = £241K
In the second year after amalgamation, April 2019 to March 2020 – the school will receive 70% of £241K = £169K, subject to DfE approval.
From April 2020 to March 2021 the school will get 1 lump sum £142K. .

12. What are the financial implications of amalgamation?
With separate schools there is a certain amount of duplication: the most obvious example of this is the Head teacher. A combined primary school only needs one: the savings made on the additional salary can be used in other areas of the school.
Improved economies of scale through sharing resources offers better value for money – a good use of the public funding used to run our schools.

13. Spending

14. Spending cont’d

15. ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF FUNDING
Grants are available to schools for a range of purposes:
eg. equipment (books, PCs/laptops etc),; improvement to school buildings, grounds and facilities; promoting exercise and sporting activities; provision of SEN; enhancement of certain subject areas (eg. sports, music, art or science); community projects; environmental “green” initiatives within schools etc.
Who Provides Grants for Schools?
The Lottery
The UK Government and its Agencies. 
European Funding
Foundations and Charitable Trusts
Commercial companies
Who can apply?
Schools
PTA

16. The proposal
The ‘new’ school will provide 474 places for 4-11 year olds until the bulge has gone through. It will then revert to 444 places for 4-11 year olds, i.e. 60 places per year group (Reception – Y2) and 66 places per year group (Y3 - Y6).
The proposed ‘new’ all-through Primary School would be the same size as the combined Infant and Junior Schools with one Governing Body and one Head Teacher. All our children will automatically transfer to the roll of the ‘new’ Primary School which would operate on the current site of the existing schools and in the same buildings.
This means that the existing Infant School would close in name only on 31st August 2017 and on 1st September 2017 we would open as St Thomas a Becket Catholic Primary School

17. What happens next?
We are consulting widely from 7th November to 16th December 2016 to hear and collect your views. The Governors are consulting with:
Parents and carers
Teaching and non-teaching staff
The Bishop and Trustees of the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton
The Diocesan Education Committee
East Sussex County Council
Local schools
Trade unions and professional associations
Priests and church communities
The local community
Other interested parties, including local and county councillors and the Member of Parliament

18. What happens next?
We will assess the views of our consultees and a number of other factors and decide on 6th February whether to proceed to the next stage of the consultation. This is the ‘statutory’ consultation period and would involve the publication of a ‘statutory notice’ on 17th March.
The notice will then be followed by a four-week period to allow comments or objections to be sent to the Governing Body.
The Governing Body will consider comments and objections received before making a recommendation to the local authority.
At the end of this period, the local authority will make the final decision on 22nd May.
If the proposals are approved, on 1 September 2017 St Thomas a Becket Catholic Primary School will open.

19. Target Timeline: Expected Key Dates in the decision-making process
Consultation opens
7 November 2016
Consultation Meeting
22 November 2016
Staff/Governors at 4.00pm
Parents / carers and members of the public at 6.00pm
Consultation closes
16 December 2016 at 9.00am
Christmas holiday
22 December 2016 – 2 January 2017
Decision: Governing Body
6 February 2017
February holiday
13 – 17 February 2017

20. If the proposal proceeds
Publication of the Statutory Notice
Friday 17 March 2017
Spring holiday
4 – 17 April 2017
Closing date for responses to the Statutory Notice
Friday 14 April 2017
Governors’ meet to make a recommendation to the Local Authority
27 April 2017 at 5.00pm
Final decision by Local Authority
22 May 2017
May holiday
29 May – 2 June 2017
End of term 6
21 July 2017
Possible implementation of any changes
Closure of one school – 31 August 2017
Opening of new school – 1 September 2017

21. How can you have your say?
We would like to hear your views.
You can fill in the questionnaire at the back of our consultation document and return it to the Chair of Governors at either the Infant or Junior School.
If you prefer, you can complete and your comments and the reply slip at the end of the consultation document to no later than 9.00am on Friday 16 December 2016.
Staff will have the opportunity to discuss the proposals in detail during the six-week consultation period.
This is not a referendum, but all the views expressed during the consultation period together with other sources of information will be used to inform the decision.

22. Frequently asked questions
Q. If the proposal goes ahead, when will the new Primary School open?
A. It is proposed that St Thomas a Becket Infant School would close on 31 August St Thomas a Becket Junior School would expand its age range on 1 September 2017 to become the ‘new’ Primary School operating on the same site and in the same building as the existing Infant and Junior Schools.
Q. Will parents/carers need to apply for a place at the ‘new’ Primary School if the proposal goes ahead?
A. No, all children on roll at both the Infant and Junior Schools at the time of the amalgamation will automatically transfer to the ‘new’ Primary School.
Q. Who decides if the proposal goes ahead?
A. This would be decided finally by the Local Authority. The expected timeline in one of the previous slides and in your copy of the consultation document sets out the various stages of the decision-making process. It is intended that the views expressed by parents/carers, staff, governors and all other interested parties during the pre-statutory consultation period will be reported to the Governing Body by an independent education consultant for a Governing Body decision on whether to proceed to the statutory notice period.

23. Frequently asked questions
Q. What would happen to staff working in the Infant and Junior Schools if the proposal goes ahead?
A. Under the existing Federation arrangements, a single school staffing structure is already in place, therefore it is not anticipated that a new staffing structure will need to be created for the amalgamated school. Trade union representatives and staff will be invited to participate in the consultation and will be fully informed throughout the process.
Q. Will staffing arrangements change?
A. Mrs Turner will remain as Head teacher of the new Primary School. No staffing changes or alterations to terms and conditions are planned as a result of these proposals.
Q. How will the integration of pupils from the two schools happen?
A. Children attending the new school will probably notice very little if any difference on an everyday basis. For the majority of time they will be in their own classroom with their friends and their teacher. At certain times the whole school will come together to help create the feeling of a whole school community

24. Frequently asked questions
Q. What will the admission criteria be for the new school?
A. If the new primary school goes ahead, the planned admission number (PAN) at Reception age for the school will be 60. The new primary school would continue to offer a total of 66 places for pupils in Year 3 to Year 6 by offering 6 places over PAN in these year groups. The school is consulting in Autumn 2016 on its 2018 admission arrangements which will be in line with updated diocesan admissions guidance. Governors do not anticipate making significant changes to the over subscription criteria for admission to the primary school .
All pupils who are attending St Thomas a Becket Infant and Junior Schools at the time of the Infant school’s proposed closure in August 2017 will automatically have a place in the new primary school from September 2017.
For 2017 admissions, parents will need to continue to apply for Reception Year and Year 3 places as usual. In the event that the proposals proceed, parents and carers will receive a letter confirming that their child has been admitted to the new primary school.
From 2018 admissions pupils in Year 2 would automatically transfer to Year 3 without the need for an application.

25. Frequently asked questions
Q. Will amalgamation of the two schools definitely happen?
A. No. There is a statutory process we must follow to make these sorts of changes to schools. At the moment we are part way through the six-week consultation stage during which we want to hear your views on the proposal. If, after considering your views and those of other stakeholders, the Governing Body still thinks it is a good idea, governors will publish full proposals and allow four weeks for people to formally comment on them. Within two months of the end of the representation period a report will be produced with all the information, together with a recommendation by the Governing Body and this will be passed to ESCC for a decision to be made.
This is the early stage of the consultation process and no final decisions have yet been made. The consultation process is designed to establish the views of parents and carers; governors; staff; the local community and other interested parties.

26. Frequently asked questions
Q. What are the financial implications of amalgamation?
A. School budgets are largely based on pupil numbers. However, as well as other factors that make up East Sussex’s funding formula is a lump sum for all East Sussex primary schools regardless of their size. St Thomas a Becket Catholic Infant and Junior Schools currently each receive lump sum funding as separate schools. Should the amalgamation proceed the ‘new all-through School’ would eventually receive one lump sum. Funding protection will be applied for two years to enable the school to achieve the economies of scale from being one larger primary school.
Assuming there will be no changes to current financial arrangements governing school amalgamations and the proposal to amalgamate the two schools takes place on 1 September 2017:
in the year of the amalgamation the two schools keep their lump sums 2 x £142K
in the year after the amalgamation April 2018 to March 2019 – the school will get 85% of the combined lump sum = £241K
In the second year after amalgamation, April 2019 to March 2020 – the school will receive 70% of £241K = £169K, subject to DfE approval.
From April 2020 to March 2021 the school will get 1 lump sum £142K.
The financial arrangements governing school amalgamations are set out in the Schools Revenue Funding 2016 to 2017 Operational Guide, July A web link to the guidance is set out here:
With separate schools there is a certain amount of duplication: the most obvious example of this is the Headteacher. Separate infant and junior schools must each have a Headteacher, whereas a combined primary school only needs one: the savings made on the additional salary can be used in other areas of the school.
Improved economies of scale through sharing resources offers better value for money – a good use of the public funding used to run our schools.

27. Frequently asked questions
Q. In summary, what are the principal benefits for children?
A. A primary school that provides education for children aged 4-11 benefits from:
A consistent approach to the ways in which children are taught.
Seven uninterrupted years of education with a consistent primary philosophy throughout
Greater ability to track pupil progress between key stages and increased attainment
A more coherent delivery of the National curriculum from Foundation Stage through to the end of Key Stage 2.
Easier sharing of good practice and expertise across the whole school

28. Our Schools