Questions & Answers We would like to thank all those of you who have asked us questions as part of consultation on the proposed Taunton Academy thus far. We have posted answers to some of them here, and will continue to answer your questions throughout the consultation process.info@theproposedacademyintaunton.org
Q. What are Academies? A. Academies are publicly funded independent schools that provide a first class free education to local students of all abilities. They provide a teaching and learning environment that is in line with the best in the maintained sector and offer a broad and balanced curriculum to students of all abilities, focusing especially on one or more subject areas (specialisms). As well as providing the best opportunities for the most able students and those needing additional support, academies have a key part to play in the regeneration of communities and raising standards through innovative approaches to management, governance, teaching and the curriculum.
Q. Why should an Academy replace a current school? A. Academies bring a distinctive approach to school leadership drawing on the skills of sponsors and other supporters. They are all-ability schools supported by the local authority and other sponsors from business, faith or voluntary groups working in innovative partnerships with central government and local education partners. The Department for Children, Schools and Families meets the capital and running costs for an Academy in full, as a part of an overall strategy to raise standards beyond the improvements already made by predecessor schools.
Q. How would the proposed Academy improve education for the children it serves? A. The Academy would be dedicated to developing the full potential of every child. Teaching would be structured to ensure that all students master the essential knowledge and skills in Literacy and Mathematics and achieve success across the full breadth of the Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 curriculum, and beyond. The Academy would also provide a curriculum designed to suit each young person’s needs, supported by its specialisms of Science and Sustainability. Considerable capital investment would be available if the Feasibility Stage were to be concluded successfully, in order to provide outstanding state-of-the-art buildings and facilities. These would improve greatly the opportunities and learning environments currently available.
Q. Who collects, counts and collates the returns from the consultation process (I've heard it is the sponsors)? A. All the returns go to the independent consultants, Grebot Donnelly Associates, who are charged by DCSF with this important task. As this is a statutory process, involving the proposed closure of 2 schools, it must be done impartially and the sponsors have no influence in this at all. The results will be published in a report compiled by CASL, the independent project management company, and a second report on school closure will be presented to the SCC Cabinet for their consideration.
Q. How would the Academy be funded? A. As part of their Funding Agreement, the Government provides Academies, through the Building Schools for the Future capital programme, with a grant for new and remodelled school buildings and thereafter funds them in the same way as other maintained schools. Some Sponsors, such as the Church of England, set up endowment funds for Academies, whilst others invest their time and expertise.
£15-20 million has been earmarked to fund capital development of the Academy for a part new build and part remodel/ refurbishment. There will also be an additional £1.6 million to fund new ICT provision.
Nationally, the two main political parties have confirmed their ongoing commitment to the Academies programme.
Q. Where would the proposed Academy be located and when would it open? A. The proposed Academy is likely to open in the existing buildings on the Ladymead Community School site on 1 September 2010, with new and improved buildings targeted for completion by September 2013. However, the sponsors may consider opening on the existing two school sites if the technical advice from the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) team suggest that initially the Ladymead site is too small to accommodate all of the students. This will be confirmed before the end of the Feasibility Stage.
Q. Is the funding guaranteed? A. The funding is guaranteed if the Academy proposal is accepted and the Funding Agreement is signed by the Secretary of State. Academies are subject to Building Schools for the Future (BSF) rules – and money has already been allocated for this purpose in the Comprehensive Spending Review (2008).
Q. How will the Academy and the Local Authority minimise possible disruption caused for students and staff by the major building works required? A. In line with the Government’s ‘Building Schools for the Future Programme’ (BSF) there will be considerable investment and development of the Academy site. There is much experience in managing the process of building work across the county in order to minimise disruption to students and staff, and the Diocese also has a proven track record in maintaining a safe environment for students while work is ongoing and ensuring that there is no disruption to the main priority of delivering a first class standard of education.
Safety and minimal disruption is of paramount importance to Sponsors and the working groups involved. There will be effective planning and processes in place to ensure that the new building works are managed effectively, with particular consideration given to students taking exams. The successful contractors will be expected to deliver a construction plan that is phased in such a way as to minimise impact on education, this is also a stated priority for DCSF.
Q. How will the building be sustainable? A. Full consideration will be given to building an Academy that incorporates all of the latest construction options that minimise energy use, look to alternative forms of energy production, reduce water consumption, etc. The sponsors will strive to achieve a very good Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) rating.
Q. Why is a Greenfield site not an option? A. A suitable site would have to be available and be affordable. To acquire this land and then complete a new build that could provide education for 1150 pupils would be prohibitively expensive.
Q. When would building plans be available for the community to see? A. Simple, outline ideas may be available by the end of the year but detailed plans would not be drawn up until 2011. The exact timeline would be the responsibility of the BSF team in Somerset, as they oversee the construction of the Academy.
Q. What reassurances are there about maintaining the quality of provision through the transition period? A. Every endeavour will be made to ensure that standards in both schools continue to rise and that pupils’ ongoing education is not disrupted. Students already committed to GCSE courses will not have those options changed part way through, which the sponsors know, from listening to people during the consultation, has been an understandable concern.
Q. What arrangements will be put in place to ensure the transition of students – The two schools’ students do not like each other? A. Community cohesion is perceived as paramount and the Senior Leadership Teams of both schools are already addressing this issue, and the sponsors would expect the Academy SLT to make this a key priority up to, during and after the transition.
Q. What would happen to St Augustine’s? A. The Diocese of Bath and Wells and The Roman Catholic Diocese of Clifton own the footprint of the buildings; Somerset County Council own the majority of the land. The DCSF require receipts from the disposal of the land to be ploughed into the BSF pot to fund the Academy. Should the Academy not go ahead it will be for the County Council, in consultation with the two dioceses and the local community, to determine the future of the school.
Q. How will disruption to students and staff be minimised during the required transition and building works? A. It is essential that the current students in both Ladymead and St. Augustine’s receive the best possible education of the next three years and beyond. With this in mind, all available options are being considered to provide the best interim solution between 2010 and 2013. A detailed programme is being put together to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption to staff and students should the Academy proposal go ahead. The priority will be to maintain a safe environment for students while work is ongoing and ensure that there is no disruption to delivering a first class standard of education.
Q. Will the community aspect be lost with a change in Governance? A. No. The sponsors’ aim is that the proposed Academy in Taunton should provide a new dimension to education for the community of this area. Through its Christian foundation, and supported by a broad range of partners, it will offer a different and dynamic approach to learning to secure excellence and a diversity of provision.
The Governance structure will be designed to include a range of staff, parent and community members, with additional provision for various forums such as Student, Community and Staff. New Academy partnerships with local businesses and organisations will mean an Academy that meets the best national standard but with a local community focus.
The Academy will continue to work across the Taunton family of schools, link with multi-agency partners and ensure the benefits the Academy brings will raise the aspirations of all our students and in the wider community.
Q. What about the curriculum? A. The proposed Academy would offer a broad curriculum including the core subjects of Mathematics, English, Science and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Religious Education would be based upon the Somerset agreed syllabus with guidance from the Diocese. It would also have specialist status in Science (with a strong focus on health sciences) and Sustainability. A range of post-16 courses, related to its specialisms would also be available.
Q. What vocational courses would be offered? A. The sponsors will coordinate the post-16 courses they offer with other post-16 providers across Taunton through the 14-19 curriculum arrangements and in association with the Academy Partners.
Q. How will the School be different, what will the ethos be? A. An Academy is an independent school with more flexible curriculum opportunities, whose partners bring more opportunities for enrichment. Although the Academy will open in existing buildings, there will be many noticeable changes from the predecessor schools.
The ethos will be one based firmly upon the Christian principles and values of love, respect, justice, truth, forgiveness and celebration.. The Academy will emphasise the unique value of each individual, be inclusive to its community and welcoming young people of all faiths or none. The Academy would develop a dynamic learning environment and new practice, in particular through its twin specialisms of Science (with a focus on health sciences) and Sustainability.
The Community
Q. How will the Academy be accountable to the local community? A. Academies are local schools for local children. The Governing Body and the Principal would have responsibility for managing the Academy. Stakeholders including staff, parents, LA representatives and sponsors’ nominees, would make up the governing body. As trustees, the Governing Body would have a public duty to act in the interests of the Academy.
Academies are inspected by Ofsted using the same framework as for maintained schools.
Q. How would the community be involved in shaping the Academy? A. A stakeholder Reference Group will be set up later in the Autumn Term and will include representatives from the local community who will be involved in shaping the Academy proposal as it develops.
Q. How is an Academy Governing Body accountable? A. The governing body of an Academy is contractually accountable to the Secretary of State. The Governing Body of the Academy Trust is required to publish procedures of its meetings. As a charity and a company limited by guarantee, an Academy must prepare and file an independently audited annual report and accounts with Companies House and make a similar report to the Charity Commissioners. The Trust must also hold a public annual general meeting. However, these are only minimum requirements. The Academy can only succeed with the support of the community. This support can only be achieved with a culture of openness between the Academy and the community.
Q. Who will the Governors be and how would they be appointed? A. The Governing Body has yet to be appointed. These appointments will be made only after the consultation phase of the proposal, should it go ahead.
The make up of the Governing Body of the proposed Taunton Academy would follow Government guidance. As Lead Sponsor, The Diocese of Bath and Wells would appoint the majority of Governors. The Diocese, with its extensive educational connections, would be able to appoint Governors from a wide range of backgrounds, including those who would bring experience of in a wide range of fields such as law and accountancy and property to ensure the Academy is effectively run. Somerset County Council would provide a number of governors with education experience and there would also be local representation.
The Sponsors would also wish to broaden the governance structure of the academy to ensure that staff, parents and students have an active influence on policy and practice. Student Voice will be an essential part of the development of the Academy and its ongoing governance. The inclusive ethos and values of the Academy, its commitment to all individual students and its core values of sustainability will all involve the close involvement of the students as participants and contributors. Q. What facilities will be available to the community? A. As an extended school, the Academy’s facilities could be open outside of school hours to the
Q. Who are the Sponsors? A. Sponsors can be from businesses, charities or Churches. They donate time and resources to the Academy, and facilitate endowment to provide further support. The proposed Taunton Academy would be sponsored by the Diocese of Bath and Wells and Somerset County Council. Further information about the sponsors is available here
Q. What experience of Academies do the Sponsors have? A. The Academy would be the first in Somerset but the Church of England has sponsored 28 Academies across the country with a further ten in progress and has gained considerable experience as a result.
Q. Who has agreed to be a partner to the proposed Academy? A.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Clifton
Somerset College
Queen’s College, Taunton
NHS Somerset
Viridor Waste Management
Partners have offered their support to the Academy through:
Shared good practice
Support for both specialisms through
Extended links with the University of Plymouth and the Peninsular Medical School
Links with Viridor, a company whose aim is to protect human health and the environment by safely, responsibly and efficiently managing society’s wastes and by maximising recycling and resource efficiency
Q. If the Academy doesn’t go ahead – can St Augustine/ Ladymead use the money ? A. No. The money has been allocated to the BSF team as part of the Academies Programme and cannot be used for anything else.
Q. How will the Principal’s appointment be conducted? / Will the young people be involved in the appointment? A. Interviews are expected to take place over 2 days in late September. The interview panel will comprise sponsors, partners and representative(s) of the DCSF. It is likely that there will be pupil involvement in the process, but exact details have yet to be finalised.
Q. What will happen to students if the schools are replaced by an Academy? A. Students who already attend either St Augustine’s or Ladymead School would automatically be offered a place in the Academy. Admission for Children who start Year 7 in September 2010 would be managed as outlined under Admissions . The transition to the new Academy would be carefully planned to ensure that all students continue to receive the highest quality of education without disruption.
It is planned that the Academy would get a £15-20 million capital investment. This means that from 2013 students would benefit from 21st century facilities and the unprecedented opportunities these will bring. The proposed Academy is also supported by an excellent range of partners, committed to working with the sponsors, to make the Academy a success.
Q. Who gets the final say on whether the proposal goes ahead? A. In order for an Academy to open, both Ladymead Community School and St Augustine of Canterbury School would have to close. The information arising from the statutory consultation on closure is considered as part of the evidence for closure by Somerset County Council and its Cabinet will make a final decision by the end of 2009.
The Sponsors consider all the evidence for the Academy, including the results from the consultation, and submit the final proposal for an Academy to the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). The Academy will only open if the Minister signs the ‘Funding Agreement’. This is the contract between the Academy and the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. The Funding Agreement sets out the arrangements to be followed as a condition of receiving a grant from the DCSF.
Q. Does Ofsted inspect Academies? A. Yes – Academies are inspected by Ofsted using the same framework as for maintained schools. A full inspection is carried out within 5 or 6 terms of an Academy opening.
Q. I have heard that the Ladymead Governors are against the Academy – why? A. It is not for the Sponsors of the Academy to speak on behalf of the Governors of Ladymead Community School. During our initial meetings the majority of Governors of both Schools were in favour of accepting the Expression of Interest, and moving to feasibility stage. The Sponsors are continuing to meet with the Governors to address their concerns, some of which we believe have been resolved. The sponsors are keen to continue this proposal as collaboratively as possible, trying to build on the existing strengths of both schools.
Q. How will the process ensure that all staff skills knowledge and experience prior to being appointed will be accounted for? A. Prior to Job Matching all current Job Descriptions and Person Specifications for current posts are collected along with the CPD record held by the school. In addition all staff are invited to add any additional roles and responsibilities they have which are not included in the current Job Description on a separate form. On the same form staff can include any other experience, training or skills that wish to be considered.A. Conditions of service cannot change at the time of transfer. After the Academy opens any change would have to be consulted upon with all affected staff and their legal/ Union representatives. In addition there would have to be a justifiable legal basis to make any change. If any changes are planned after opening then staff and legal representatives must also be informed prior to the Academy opening and again full consultation must occur. There are no plans to vary conditions of service at this time.
Q. Will there be flexibility in the curriculum / staffing/ design of the new Academy? A. Yes. During feasibility, the sponsors, guided by their Education Consultants, Tribal, and the DCSF, draw up an Education Brief that describes their vision for the Academy and includes a curriculum model and proposed staffing structure, which is then further developed in implementation.
Q. What will happen to staff if the schools are replaced by an Academy? A. Sponsors recognise that continuity with excellent teachers and support staff is the decisive factor in a successful school and will actively work to achieve this as a priority in the development of the Academy. This is why the current staff in both schools will be subject to Transfer Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) regulations. The sponsors hope that all existing staff will want to transfer to suitable posts in the new Academy, contributing to its continued development and benefitting from the opportunities that the academy will bring to their professional life.
