Highwood Primary School Mead Way, Bushey, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD23 2AW Tel: 01923 484650 Fax: 01923 484653 E-mail: [email protected] Della Allen - Head Teacher __________________________________________________________________________________ Tuesday 6th January 2015 Dear Parents and Carers, CONSULTATION: ACADEMY CONVERSION We wish to inform you that the governing body made an application for permission to convert Highwood to an academy trust under the Academies Act 2010, and that this application has been successful. This application has been made on the basis that Highwood would convert as an individual academy trust with our own Funding Agreement as a result of our continued programme of improvement and strong position. However, as part of the application, Highwood Primary School and Parmiter's School have mutually reached agreement that they will work together to form an overarching umbrella trust in order to share governance, procurement of services, skills and expertise and establish a joint vision. Based on the above, the structure would look like this: As our application has been successful, we have been issued with an 'Academy Order', which means that the Department for Education (DfE) has carried out due diligence and is willing to permit us to convert, if we wish to do so. Highwood Primary School Mead Way, Bushey, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD23 2AW Tel: 01923 484650 Fax: 01923 484653 E-mail: [email protected] Della Allen - Head Teacher __________________________________________________________________________________ Although, the decision to convert to an academy resides with the governing body, we are keen to consider the views of parents/carers and staff. With that in mind, we have set out some key information, below: What is an academy? An academy is essentially an independent school which is funded by the state. It is independent of the local authority and receives its funding direct from central government. Previously academies have tended to replace schools which have poor results or need to improve. As Highwood is a 'good' school we can apply without being part of a group of schools and without being sponsored but we have chosen to form a working partnership, under an umbrella trust, with Parmiter's School. Why have we agreed to form an umbrella trust with Parmiter's School? This partnership would align us to a highly successful school, held in high regard by the local community. The Headteacher, senior leaders and governors of both schools have met on several occasions and agree there will be numerous mutual benefits. We are in the process of developing a joint agreement around how the partnership would work in detail but we would hope to benefit from targeted support, strengthening teachers' skills, knowledge and expertise to ensure our pupils receive the very best education possible. Parmiter's could also support enrichment with our new curriculum and middle leaders could develop skills and knowledge through partnership work. We would aim to become part of The Teaching Schools Alliance working to support student teachers in their career development. We would also be able to financially benefit from shared procurement and training. It is important to note that the Parmiter's highly selective admissions criteria is not expected to change specifically in respect of Highwood pupils. Highwood pupils will be at no additional advantage when seeking admission to Parmiter's School under the umbrella trust. Highwood Primary School Mead Way, Bushey, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD23 2AW Tel: 01923 484650 Fax: 01923 484653 E-mail: [email protected] Della Allen - Head Teacher __________________________________________________________________________________ What are the benefits of being an academy? 1. Academies are independent of local authority control - this means we would have more freedom in how we conduct ourselves. 2. Academies receive their funding direct from local government this means we would receive more funding because none of it is retained by the local authority for the provision of central services. 3. Academies have more freedom over the curriculum - this means we would not be obliged to teach parts of the National Curriculum that we do not consider appropriate for our pupils. 4. Academies can set their own pay and conditions for staff - this means we can alter pay and conditions of staff (subject to normal employment law) and have the freedom to provide staff with better pay and conditions than previously. 5. Academies have freedom to set their admission arrangements this means we would have the freedom to offer places in accordance with our own admission arrangements (we would still be bound by the national admissions code). Are there any disadvantages to becoming an academy? As an academy we would be directly liable for matters such as insurance, employment liabilities, pensions, health and safety and property maintenance. However, academies receive funding from central government to help them meet these additional costs. What WILL NOT change if we become an academy? We would retain, protect and enhance the ethos of the school. There are no plans to change our Highwood name, uniform or logo. There are no plans to change our admission criteria. There are no plans to negatively alter the pay and conditions of staff. Highwood Primary School Mead Way, Bushey, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD23 2AW Tel: 01923 484650 Fax: 01923 484653 E-mail: [email protected] Della Allen - Head Teacher __________________________________________________________________________________ Further details about academies are http://www.education.gov.uk/academies. available on the DfE website: Although we are working towards conversion to academy status on 1 April 2015 (this may need to be delayed until 1 June 2015 due to the general election), we are not obliged to become an academy until the contract between the academy trust and the DfE (known as the Funding Agreement) is signed. The governing body has not yet begun to negotiate the Funding Agreement with the DfE and will not make a final decision to sign the Funding Agreement until parents, carers and staff have had the opportunity to make representations or comment on our plans. The governing body encourage you to engage in the consultation process by asking questions, giving your views or making representations regarding our plans to convert to an academy, on the terms outlined within this letter. We therefore invite you to provide any comments or representations through a dedicated email that has been set up for the consultation: [email protected]. In addition, a meeting will take place on 3rd February at 3pm for you to ask questions, learn more about the proposals, give your views or make representations. Please note, the closing date for comments or representations will be Monday 2nd March, 2015. Once the governing body has had sufficient time to consider comments and any representations made, we will make our final decision. Please be assured that we will not proceed unless we are confident that the conversion would be in the best interest of the school, taking account of all the legal and practical ramifications. Yours sincerely, Claire Horn Chair of Governors
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