Consultation to join a Multi-Academy Trust - Canonium Learning Trust

After careful consideration and extensive discussions with the Local Authority and the Diocese, the School’s Governing Body has made the decision to apply for conversion to academy status. We are pleased to inform you that, following these discussions, all parties have agreed that this is the best course of action for the future of Woodham Walter C of E Primary School. As a result, the Department for Education (DfE) has granted the school an Academy Order, marking an exciting step forward in our journey. Having been granted this Order we plan to consult widely with a proposal to join a Multi-Academy Trust, namely the Canonium Learning Trust. The Canonium Learning Trust is a group of schools that share a similar vision, Christian ethos and values to our school and we believe joining this collaborative partnership could bring significant benefits to our school.

This is an important decision that will impact our entire school community, so we want to ensure we consult with all relevant stakeholders, inviting your views on the matter, before proceeding.

What is an Academy?

Academies are state schools, funded directly from the central government, no longer under the control of the Local Authority. Academy status gives schools more freedom to be innovative and creative with the curriculum, timetabling, staffing and governance.

All academies continue to be inspected by Ofsted and comply with the same rules as other schools on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), exclusions and admissions.

An academy is part of a charitable trust (the MAT) run by a board of trustees. Trusts and their academies are rightly expected to work with and support other schools, including vulnerable schools. Should you wish to know more about the Government’s policy, the Department for Education has its own academies bookmark on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/convert-to-an-academy-information-for-schools

What is a Multi Academy Trust (MAT)?

A Multi-Academy Trust is a charitable company and is responsible for overseeing the running of a number of schools. It has three layers of governance: the Members; the Directors; and the Local Governing Bodies.

A MAT is formed when its articles (legal document) are approved by the DfE and it is registered at Companies House as a company. MATs are made up of a number of academy schools – some are just primary school MATs, others will have secondary schools in them and some will include Special Schools too. It is usual for MATs to have periods of growth, when a number of schools might join and then some period of consolidation. There isn’t a set number of schools that make a MAT. The partnership established between all schools in the MAT ensures that the schools can share skills and best practice and make optimum use of resources ensuring best value for money for each school.

In many ways the children will not notice any immediate difference, they will be in the same classrooms with the same teaching staff. However, in time the children will perhaps notice changes and improvements in the way that they learn for example and have greater links with other schools within the Trust.

As part of the academy conversion process, we would like to reassure you that the Department for Education (DfE) provides an academy support grant of up to £25,000 to cover the costs associated with the transition. This grant is specifically designed to support schools converting voluntarily and can be used for a range of expenses, including obtaining legal advice, advice on Human Resources and meeting TUPE regulations, as well as other costs related to the academy conversion.

In addition, the Canonium Trust absorbs any remaining costs above the grant to ensure the school is not financially disadvantaged by the conversion process. This approach reflects their commitment to ensuring that resources remain focused on pupils’ education and welfare.

Who is the Canonium Learning Trust?

The Canonium Learning Trust is an educational community dedicated to helping every child reach their full potential and develop a lifelong love of learning. Their aim is for every child to leave their schools equipped to face future challenges, make positive life choices, and contribute meaningfully to society. Their Vision: One body, many members - flourishing together, highlights the Trust’s commitment to recognising the unique qualities of each school while fostering a collaborative environment where we all work together to support and encourage one another to thrive. https://www.canonium.org/about-us/purpose-principles

What will be the main benefits for schools within the Canonium Learning Trust?

● Access to high quality staff, including a Trust leadership team who will be sharply focused on securing excellence.

● Moderation of standards across the partnership of schools to ensure the highest quality provision.

● Greater control over finances and the money due to schools.

● Educational benefits for pupils as a result of additional freedoms available to academies in terms of the curriculum we offer, and how we prioritise resources.

● The opportunity to work in close and formalised partnership with other schools and share expertise and services that will benefit all of our pupils and staff.

● Sharing resources and expertise, allows us to target funding towards improving front line teaching and learning.

● Develop our own solutions collaboratively.

● Greater opportunities to access alternative funding streams including grants.

Are there any disadvantages to becoming an academy?

● Canonium Learning Trust will be directly liable for matters such as insurance, employment liabilities, pensions, health and safety and property maintenance. However, as mentioned above, academies receive more funding from central government to help them meet these additional costs, and in any event, Canonium Learning Trust already deals with these matters for the other academies which it supports.

● Once the school has converted, there is currently no route to revert back to being a maintained school under local authority control - academy conversion is a permanent change to the school’s status.

● If the school was a school causing concern in the future, the Secretary of State may have the power to force the school to transfer to a different academy trust. However, in those circumstances, it is likely that the Secretary of State would have the power to intervene even if the school remained a local authority maintained school.

Will staff leave?

● If the school converts to an academy, all staff currently employed by the local authority will automatically transfer to the new academy on their current pay and conditions. Although the academy will have more freedom to amend those pay and conditions in the future, the governing body does not intend to take such a step in the foreseeable future and in any event, any change to pay and conditions would need to be consulted upon with staff representatives.

● Under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE), a separate consultation process will be conducted with staff to ensure that they are fully informed and involved in the transition.

What additional responsibilities will Academy status bring?

● Currently the Local Authority employs our staff – going forward the Multi-Academy Trust would be the employer rather than the LA.

● The Academy Trust would be responsible for admissions rather than the LA (although the Local Authority would still co-ordinate and ensure the Trust adopts clear and fair admission arrangements in line with the admissions law and the School Admissions Code).

● As part of the academy conversion process, the Academy Trust will enter into a 125-year lease for the land of the school site, which is typically owned by the Local Authority. While this is a formal requirement, it is important to note that we already have responsibility for the costs associated with maintaining the land and buildings. This lease arrangement will not impact the day-to-day operations of the school, and there is no cause for concern.

● As part of the conversion process, we would like to inform you that part of the land and buildings of the school are owned by the Diocese. The Governing Body, in partnership with the Diocese, will ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for the continued use and stewardship of these assets following the academy conversion. These arrangements will support the long-term future of the school and its role within the local community.

Will any changes to the school be made as a result of conversion?

As part of the academy conversion process, the Governing Board, in collaboration with the Diocese, is considering changing the name of Woodham Walter Church of England Primary School to St Michael’s Church of England Primary Academy, Woodham Walter. However, we welcome feedback and input from all stakeholders before making a final decision. Please be assured we do not intend to make any changes to the day-to-day work of the school following conversion, except in ways which we think will improve the school even more. We will, however, adjust the governance arrangements and accountability that comes with working within a Multi-Academy Trust to bring closer working practices between the schools in the Trust.

How do I learn more, and how do I respond to the consultation?

We are consulting with everyone associated with our school and we encourage all members of our school community - including parents/carers, staff, pupils, and members of the local community - to provide feedback and ask questions about this proposal.

You can do so by:

● Attending a public meeting, at which governors and representatives of Canonium Learning Trust will be present, on 5th December at 8:45am in the school hall

● Emailing your comments to consultation@woodhamwalterschool.co.uk

● Completing a feedback form available from the school office

The consultation period will run from 29^th November 2024 to 24th January 2025. After this, the Governing Body will carefully consider all the feedback received before making a final decision on whether to proceed with joining Canonium Learning Trust.

We value your input greatly, and look forward to hearing your views on this important matter. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any other questions.

Yours sincerely,

Geoff Hicks

Geoffrey Hicks

Chair of Governors