Statutory Public Consultation
For
Coal Clough High School – Academy Conversion
This consultation will begin on 27th April 2015 and will finish on 5th June 2015
Contents
1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 3
2 Overview of proposed academy .................................................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Why have we decided to become an academy? .................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Why consult?........................................................................................................................................................... 3
3 Timeline of process ........................................................................................................................................................ 3
4 How to respond.............................................................................................................................................................. 4
5 Education Partnership Trust Vision ................................................................................................................................ 4
6 Coal Clough High School Mission Statement ................................................................................................................. 4
7 Admissions Overview ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
8 Governance Overview .................................................................................................................................................... 5
9 Consultation Questionnaire ........................................................................................................................................... 6
1 Introduction
The Education Partnership Trust (EPT) has been given permission by the Secretary of State to become a sponsor. It
has also been nominated by the DfE to sponsor the conversion of Coal Clough High School into an academy in
September 2015.
This consultation provides details of the proposal to convert Coal Clough High School into an academy by 1st
September 2015. We are presently in the Pre-Conversion phase and this statutory consultation is part of the work
we are doing to get final ministerial approval during 2015 to open in September 2015.
2 Overview of proposed academy
2.1 Why have we decided to become an academy?
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Academies are independent of Local Authority control – this means that Academies have more freedom
about how they conduct themselves
Academies receive their funding direct from central government – this means that Academies receive more
funding because none is retained by the Local Authority for the provision of central services
Academies have more choice over how they spend the school’s budget- The school can be far more
selective about services, this helps to ensure best value
Academies have more freedom over the curriculum taught – this means that Academies can tailor the
curriculum to meet the needs of the children and to reflect the values of the local community
Being an academy means we take more control of our own future. The educational landscape is fast
changing and we would prefer to be making decisions ourselves to ensure the best opportunities for the
children
The local authority has reduced in size and no longer provides all the services that a school needs – The
range of services are now extremely limited and this means that schools must look to provide these
opportunities for children themselves. We believe the Multi Academy Trust will be able to offer a more
comprehensive range of support than a school staying with the LA.
2.2 Why consult?
Section 5 of the Academies Act 2010 requires all schools to carry out a formal consultation on the specific question
of whether the school should enter into Academy arrangements with the Secretary of State in order to convert the
school into an academy. This document outlines the key questions that the Education Partnership Trust wishes
people to consider, the process by which you can respond and what will happen to your responses.
3 Timeline of process
The overall consultation process is from 27th April to 5th June 2015. Within that time various events, activities and
support will be available to help anyone take part in the consultation.
Date
Wednesday
20th May
2015 from
6.30 – 8.00
pm
Events and Activities
Formal consultation event
including session with Q&A – held
at Coal Clough High School,
Swindon Street, Burnley, BB11 4PF
Purpose of Event
To provide information
about Coal Clough High
School’s reasons for
converting to an academy
and answer any questions
and concerns raised
Who is it for?
Stakeholders - Including Coal
Clough High School staff,
Committee Members,
parents, prospective parents,
local schools, community
groups, associated partners
and local residents
4 How to respond
Anyone wishing to take part in the consultation process can do so in a variety of ways, including;
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You can complete the questionnaire on our website at (www.coalcloughhighschool.co.uk)
There will also be a public consultation meeting (please see timeline table above for date, time and venue). At
this meeting representatives of the Education Partnership Trust (EPT) will outline the reasons and proposals for
why Coal Clough High School should become an academy. There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions
and give your views, so you can contribute to the development of the school into a successful academy
You can read and then complete the questionnaire at the back of this consultation document and then post back
to us c/o Martin Sweeney, Optime Business Services Ltd, 8 Willow Bank, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 7NR or via email
to mg_sweeney@yahoo.co.uk
5 Education Partnership Trust Vision
To create outstanding schools which transform learning, lives and communities.
Our Core Principles
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High Expectations
We have the highest expectations of all ourselves, our pupils, our staff and our school community.
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Partnership
We will work collaboratively with partners to achieve the best possible outcomes for our pupils.
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Passionate
We are passionate about education and learning as a vehicle to life opportunities and committed to our pursuit of
excellence in all we do.
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Innovative
We relentlessly pursue new ideas that drive best practice, increase our effectiveness and improve outcomes.
6 Coal Clough High School Mission Statement
Coal Clough High School, in partnership with parents, carers and other agencies aims to provide for students, a safe
and stimulating learning environment, creating opportunities for academic and personal success.
7 Admissions Overview
Coal Clough High School is a 115 place Pupil Referral Unit serving predominantly the Burnley & Pendle Districts. It
may be deemed appropriate at times to admit students from neighbouring districts, but these are considered on an
individual basis and in consultation with Lancashire County Council and mainstream schools.
In September 2012 The ISSAC Centre (KS 3 PRU), ACERS East Lancs Campus (KS 4 PRU) and the East Lancashire
Education Medical Service amalgamated onto one site and became Coal Clough High School.
Coal Clough High School provides an alternative for young people from Years 7 – 11 including those with medical
needs who are unable to access mainstream education for a variety of reasons.
Students referred to Coal Clough High School currently, will fall into one of two groups:
Statutory:
These students are referred to us by Lancashire County Council who commission and fund places with us because a
student may have been:
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Permanently excluded from their mainstream school
Referred by a Medical Consultant as they are at that time due to ill health unable to access a mainstream
school
Be new to the area and it is deemed unsuitable at that time to move into a local mainstream school
Returning to education following a period of time out of education either as a Child Missing Education or
returning from Elective Home Education
Non-Statutory:
These students are referred to us by their own mainstream school on an individual basis and for a variety of reasons,
but ultimately because they are not succeeding in school. The plan in most cases is for a student to then return to
their own mainstream or have a managed move to a new mainstream setting arranged. However in Key Stage 4 it is
sometimes deemed more appropriate that they remain at Coal Clough High School to complete their GCSE
qualifications.
For these students their mainstream school funds their place directly with Coal Clough High School using the Age
Weighted Pupil Unit Funding.
Students referred through the statutory or non-statutory route have access to the same high quality education and
small class sizes allowing for high staff-student ratio alongside focused teaching tailored to individual needs enabling
students to make good progress both academically and socially.
8 Governance Overview
The Education Partnership Trust (EPT) has agreed to sponsor Coal Clough High School. The EPT Board of Directors
consists of a maximum of 8 Directors.
This Board of Directors will be responsible for the key strategic decisions relating to Coal Clough High School. Coal
Clough High School will have a local governing body that reports in to the Multi-Academy Trust on progress, delivery
of the curriculum.
9 Consultation Questionnaire
The Education Partnership Trust is proposing to convert Coal Clough High School to an academy in September
2015.
Please complete the questionnaire below and return it no later than 5th June 2015. Additional information is
available on the website at (www.coalcloughhighschool.co.uk) including a section on Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ) and answers related to academy conversion.
Question 1 - Your details:
(This question is only asked to help us analyse responses to the questionnaire)
Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
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Postcode: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Tel: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Question 2 - Who are you? Please tick alternatives.
Parent/carer of a child who currently attends Coal Clough High School
Prospective Parent/carer of a child who may attend Coal Clough High School from September 2015
Member of staff at Coal Clough High School
Committee Member at Coal Clough High School
Parent /carer of a child from another local school
Staff Association representative
Employed at another school
Governor at another school
Local resident
Local Employer/Business
Councillor
M.P.
Other – Please specify (e.g. Member of an Organisation/Society) –
Question 3 – Overall Vision
Do you support the vision of Coal Clough High School?
Yes
Comments
No
Don’t know
Question 4 – Equality Assessment
Do you think any groups or individuals will be adversely affected by the proposal outlined in our consultation
document?
Yes
No
Don’t know
Comments
Question 5 – Admissions
Do you think Coal Clough High School’s Admissions overview and criteria are clear and fair?
Yes
No
Don’t know
Comments
Question 6 - Funding Agreement and academy conversion
Do you agree that Coal Clough High School should convert to become an academy, by entering into a Funding
Agreement with the Secretary of State for Education?
Yes
Comments
No
Don’t know