Question and Answers on Allington Primary School Academy Trust joining
with Valley Invicta Academy Trust
1) Why are we looking to join with VIAT?
The DfEs preferred model for academies is a multi-academy trust. DfE have indicated to
Mr Geadah that after one year as an academy Allington Primary School Academy Trust
could well be asked to consider sponsorship of other schools. Therefore, it is probable
that we will be asked to take on other schools ourselves if we do not become part of an
existing multi-academy.
As a consequence of VIATs successful bid to operate three new primary schools Mr
Geadah has been asked to be the Executive Head of VIATs primary schools, taking up
the role from this September. They have also asked if we would consider joining their
new multi-academy trust.
Governors considered three options:
1. We remain a single academy and appoint a new Headteacher. The feedback from
DfE suggests that remaining as a single academy may not continue to be an option.
2. We remain as a single academy and consider sponsoring another school/ schools
after appointing a new Headteacher. If Allington Primary School were to sponsor other
schools to become a multi-academy then this carries the risk of more disruption to the
school compared to joining with VIAT.
3. We become part of an existing academy trust (VIAT) retaining Mr Geadah as the
Executive Head with responsibility for the five primary schools within VIAT, which would
include us, and we appoint a Head of School for the day to day running of our school.
We retain our existing local governing body with representatives on VIAT’s multiacademy trust board.
Governors believe the best option for the future of our school is option 3 and are keen to
hear the views of parents and staff through the consultation.
2) What are the benefits of us joining with VIAT?
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We would be moving to multi-school academy, which is the DfEs preferred
model, with other schools that have the same ethos and ambition to us.
It means we get to choose who we link up with under a DfE preferred multiacademy model and we already have very close ties with VIAT.
Joining VIAT would add value to our children. Valley Park and Invicta
Grammar School were 9th and 10th nationally in school performance ratings.
As a Governing Body we are experiencing increasing demands of
administration and policy-making as a single academy. Governors have
noticed more time is being spent on this and less time focused on considering
the children, staff, curriculum and learning at the school. Governors want to
ensure they are fully effective and believe as a multi-academy there would be
a better balance between these two aspects.
Under VIAT we will retain the expertise and experience of Mr Geadah and his
deeply engrained understanding will help ensure decisions made by the VIAT
trust board are in the interests of our school.
Economies of scale would be achieved through negotiation of supplier
contracts for services such as IT, insurance, grounds maintenance,
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stationary. Costs for common services used by the schools, from example
HR, Finance, would be shared across the new Trust. We are already gaining
benefit through working with the Finance Team at VIAT Business Centre.
There will be sharing of best practice – teaching and running a school within
the changing landscape due to DfE decisions.
Professional development and opportunities for staff.
3) Why didn’t we join with VIAT when we converted to an Academy? What has
changed now?
At the time we converted to an academy VIAT was a multi-academy with two secondary
schools and no primary schools. We believed it was a better option to convert as a
single school academy whilst keeping close working ties with VIAT which we have
maintained over the last 12 months through working with VIAT on supporting Aylesford
Primary School and by working with VIAT Business Centre.
Now that VIAT have Aylesford Primary School and the three new primary schools the
new Trust will be more balanced with primary schools.
4) What are the benefits to the children and staff at Allington Primary School through
being part of VIAT?
The benefits to children and staff at Allington Primary School are:
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Access to workshops, accommodation and resources from Secondary
colleagues.
Access to additional finance through economies of scale when purchasing
supplies that can be spent directly on more pupil resources.
Greater access to specialist services, for example a shared Family Liaison
Officer.
Joint working with children and staff at other schools with VIAT.
Joint Continuing Professional Development for staff.
Transition experiences – children from Allington (Y5/6) experiencing life in a
Secondary School.
Support with the delivery of a Level 6 curriculum.
Access to more transportation for trips etc
5) What impact will this have on staff? How will staff be protected in joining with VIAT?
In partnership with VIAT, there would be sharing of best practice, sharing of resources,
enhanced professional development and greater opportunities for staff. Allington
Primary School is viewed by VIAT as being an outstanding model of a primary school
and will continue to work with an organisation with proven success and with a shared
ethos.
Mr Geadah will be the Executive Head of the VIAT primary schools, including Allington if
we join. With Allington Primary School there would be five schools and he plans to
spend a day each week at each school, so we would retain the benefits of his expertise.
We would appoint a Head of School who would be responsible for day-to-day running of
the school - and would effectively be the Headteacher but without some of the
Headteacher’s powers, such as not being able to exclude pupils or close the school for
a day. Whether Allington would have a Deputy Head of School is yet to be decided.
We, as a Governing Body of the school would appoint the Head of School and VIAT
would hold the Governing Body to account if it proved to be a bad appointment. Our
local Governing Body would decide the staffing structure (including the number of
Teaching Assistants and Support Staff) in its school, though of course we would not put
forward a structure that we could not afford.
Allington Primary School is already working with the Finance Team at VIAT and it will be
our decision if there are any further changes in these arrangements including if
someone was asked to work at another office.
There would be a TUPE transfer to VIAT for staff and the school will consult further with
them. Given the recent transition to Academy status, with the hard work and
uncertainty that has resulted, staff do have understandable concerns about making
another big transition. Governors are listening to staff concerns and will ensure these
are considered as we move forwards together in a way that we all feel is best for our
school.
6) Will VIAT be able to sell the land at Allington Primary School or use the land for a
purpose that does not benefit the children at the school?
There are restrictions on the sale of land connected with schools. We cannot sell land
or even lease it for more than five years without the permission of the Secretary of
State. The same will apply with VIAT ownership of the land at Allington. The land will
be separately identified under the Funding Agreement between DfE and VIAT – it
cannot be excluded and will have to be transferred.
9) How would Allington Primary School be funded as part of the VIAT multi-academy?
VIAT’s model is that each school receives its funding as allocated by the EFA – there is
no ‘top slicing’. Each school considers its own budget for submission to the Trust for
approval. Some costs are shared giving better value for money to the schools and
savings remain with the school. However the model funding agreement allows for multiacademy trusts to reallocate funds across its schools. This cannot be excluded from the
funding agreement.
10) Will there still be a governing body at Allington Primary School if we were part of
VIAT?
Yes. Allington Primary School would retain a local Governing Body as it has it now.
Our Governing Body would also have representatives on VIAT’s multi-academy trust
board.
As the local Governing Body we would be accountable for supporting the Executive
Headteacher and Head of School in driving forward the School Improvement Plan.