Transcript Slide 1
What is an Academy ? An independent state school that is run by an Academy Trust. The Trust enters into an agreement with the Secretary of State for Education that sets out its responsibilities and accountabilities for the effective running of the academy. The Trust Board (sometimes known as “directors”) has a very similar role to the current Governing Body but with some further governance and financial duties. The Trust Board will continue to have a mix of community, parent and staff governors. Academies are funded directly by the Government and are no longer run by their Local Authority. The Trust is given charitable exemption, which means it must operate much like a charity. Why is it right for Banovallum? Community School since 1963 We have spent the last 3 years developing our business and site management function We are very well supported by parents and community partners and are fully committed to offering an inclusive and open entry policy to local young people. 63 Secondary Schools in Lincolnshire. Only 7 are still Local Authority and some of those are in consultation Objects: 1. The Academy Trust’s object are specifically restricted to the following: (a)to advance for the public benefit education in the United Kingdom, in particular but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing by establishing, maintaining, carrying on, managing and developing a school offering a broad and balanced curriculum; and (b) to promote for the benefit of individuals living in Horncastle and the surrounding area who have need by reason of their age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time activities in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life of the said individuals. Academy The Benefits • We will have greater freedom to: • exert greater control over school budgets; • choose how we spend the money that Lincolnshire County Council currently spends on our behalf. • • • • • • • maintain and improve pay and conditions for staff; Protection of our ethos and values against the political landscape Our own business autonomy – site bids Support and rigour where needed for raising standards Breakdown the divide between Grammar and Secondary Modern Increase in offer for children of Horncastle - Post 16 Economies of scale : better value for public funds How are Academies Funded ? The entire school budget would come direct to the school from central Government allowing the school to control the whole of their spending. General Annual Grant (GAG) Allocation per pupil (AWPU) and similar characteristics school funding Funding to cover LA functions What does it mean in real terms for the Leadership and Governors? We become a company registered at Companies House and as such are bound by company law - including annual audit and financial reports to the Secretary of state. Members (or trustees) have increased liabilities Some increased responsibilities for the Headteacher Some costs to convert - legal etc but £25K to support Rulings around governance structures but our structure remains the same some slight reorganisation has to be actuary assessed We need to source our own insurance LG pension scheme needs to be actuary assessed Curriculum Control Quality Assurance and Raising Standards built into our proposed model The umbrella trust would have the right to appoint additional directors to individual academy trusts if an agreed trigger is reached. Academy trusts can also agree to give the UT the right to remove directors in the event of a trigger being reached. Raising Achievement Panel formed by the umbrella trust to scrutinise performance of all academies within the trust and makes recommendations about actions for improvement. Raising Achievement Panel Horncastle Umbrella Trust Banovallum QEGS Members Directors Members Directors Each academy has its own Articles of Association and funding agreement with the Secretary of State. The Articles of Association for both the UT and individual academies will set out triggers and arrangements for appointment of additional directors Additional Academy Members Directors Academies continue to exist as separate legal entities which sit under an overarching umbrella trust. Academy Timeline (subject to consultation) 1st September : Formal Consultation officially opens TUPE Letters Issued to staff 9th September: First Meeting to create Umbrella Trust 22nd September : Public Meeting End of September: Governing body approve draft agreements First Week in November: Final GB meeting and first meeting of new Trust Conversion: 1st December Bids for capital prepared