Discovery Alliance Parent Consultation Meeting
Hemlington Hall School, 5th June 2013
Meeting opened 6.10pm – 7.30pm
19 attended (including the Chair of Governors for each School) (15 parents/carers from 11
families) plus 1 telephone conversation.
Karen Edmenson thanked everyone for attending.
Head Teachers were introduced
Karen Edmenson (KE)
- Hemlington Hall (HH)
Leslie Sinclair (LS)
- Rosewood (R)
Helen Malbon (HM)
- Viewley Hill (VH)
Andy Dunn (AD)
- Sunnyside (SS)
Chris Drew (CD)
- Kings Academy (KA)
Ruth Parker (RP)
- Easterside Primary – arrived approximately 6.20pm
Introduced Colin Geddes (DFE Academy Unit)
Mr Colin Geddes explained the Academy programme and described the types of Academy.
A parent voiced the opinion that she thought Academies were only for Secondary Schools.
Mr Geddes explained the Academy agenda had changed in 2010 – it was no longer about
under achieving schools. Convertor Academies have now been introduced.
He explained notion of the Discovery Alliance – 5 stand - alone Academies, under an
Umbrella Trust to give guidance, challenge and support. Shared experience across the
group. Each one would be autonomous.
Questions from the floor were then invited
Q.
A.
Does that mean we can only network within the umbrella trust schools?
Mr Geddes clarified that networking could take place with any school.
Q.
A.
Could our school go back to normal primary status?
7 Year termination clause explained.
Q.
A.
What happens if support was not there between establishments?
We would buy in from other sources.
Q.
A.
Would you get the same level of service?
Guaranteed better service – we can go out to tender.
Q.
A.
Secretary of State to pay for that?
No. Schools have individual budgets (KE explained)
Q.
A.
Have we got the figures to back this up?
Yes we already do out source. (LS)
Q.
A.
Would you go out to tender?
Yes
Q
Technically could you buy in from the Local Authority?
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A.
Yes, as long as they still exist. (Remember the more schools that become
Academies, the less the LA has to maintain, therefore less services.
KE restated the LA present position)
Q.
Correct me if I’m wrong, when moving to Academy there would be individual articles
for each school?
Yes
A.
Q.
A.
Are there still financial incentives to move to an academy?
Yes. £25,000 to be used for legal/conversion/articles/signage etc.
Each school will receive £25,000 therefore the Trust can pool resources and save
money.
AD added (to June 30th) Primary Chair Grant of £30,000 had been available + it
would have terms and conditions attached.
Q.
A.
Timescales- would we be able to get that grant?
AD explained we need to register interest in DFE incentive.
KE added different time windows for grants have previously been available.
AD added the money would go back into school’s budget.
Q.
A.
Business manager – do other schools have business manager?
Hemlington Hall KE – yes
Viewley Hill – HM considering structure
There could be 5 Business Managers in the Academy model – delegate workload,
saving costs not repeating costs.
Q.
A.
Are there 2 pots of money?
Every school will be funded as they are now, based on Pupil Premium/demographics/
numbers/data. Once each school has received the money, the collective can then
put in the pot to organise and buy in facilities/services.
Q.
A
Would Kings be in that pot?
Yes
Q.
A.
Would there be competition between each school?
KE explained the admissions policy. Schools would be supportive of each other not
compete against each other.
Mrs Sinclair added that the prime reason for academy status is not financial but to
raise standards alongside colleagues we trust and respect.
Q.
A.
Q.
A.
When you chose partners to combine with – strengths/weaknesses- have we a good
balance?
Yes – expertise/context of school/complex needs/specific needs/we are a balanced
group with common themes across schools.
Will the admission policy change to Kings Academy?
Parental concerns re: catchment to Kings Academy. Why can’t HH pupils access
Kings Academy?
Mr G explained parental choice but the criteria does not mean you always get choice
you want.
300 applications for 200 places this year at KA. Appeals procedure is in place.
Maintained or Academy status - you may still have the same issue with places.
It is a myth that academies receive more funding than maintained schools.
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What they can do is change the curriculum to meet needs of children in their
establishments.
Q.
A.
Directed at Kings Academy. How do you see your role in this?
Give advice so all pupils get the best start, there may also be a selfish interest- to
work with schools for year 7.
Q.
A.
Would it ever be considered to bring in teaching staff from Kings Academy?
Transfer of staff – it would not be the case that teachers move to other schools to
teach, because they are successful in one school does not necessarily mean they
will be successful at another school. However, requests for support do already exist.
For example – requested support for more able pupils in mathematics in Rosewood –
Kings Academy have offered teaching time and expertise.
It was explained that our schools are already working in a cluster and network – we
would now be making arrangements more formal.
Q.
A.
Would HT’s be willing to share Ofsted results?
May 2011
Good with outstanding feature
Sept 2012 Requiring Improvement overall
With 2 categories which were
judged securely good.
May 2011
Good 7 outstanding features
Jan 2013
Good
Feb 2012
Good
May 2013
Good
Sunnyside
Hemlington Hall
Viewley Hill
Easterside
Rosewood
Kings Academy
It was commented that a new revised Framework for Ofsted was introduced in Sept
2012 and HH was one of the first schools inspected under that Framework. It was
then commented Easterside were inspected under another new Framework in Jan.
Q.
A.
Is there an intention to keep the current Governing Body of the school?
Yes
Q.
A.
Are you going to get rid of anything? Redundancies/staff?
Each school is in Consultation, at staff meetings staff have been assured that
downsizing is not on the Academy agenda.
However, CD from KA did point out we are in tough times – at KA there have been
four years of budget cuts – he confirmed no redundancy is planned in relation to
Academy status.
Q.
A.
Question about change in uniform/ name of school or academy?
At Sunnyside AD and staff have not discussed name change or uniform, there is no
pressure to change.
Q.
A.
That may be something people worry about, costs of uniform?
Sensitive in present climate – if schools were to change they would still use the most
economical supplier and would encourage the change- over gradually, particularly if
parents may have just bought uniform.
Q.
A.
Would it be the intention to change holidays?
Not at present
CD expressed his personal opinion in support of a 5 term year, but added it would
not be introduce at KA unless it was introduced nationally.
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Q.
A.
PD Days- would it be necessary to close as they do?
5 PD days are statutory days – the umbrella schools may choose to do some
together but not always.
TUPE conditions apply explained by C. Geddes
Q.
Has there been any discussion about a specialism area? Now or in the future, if so
would it affect catchment area? so parents may choose an Academy with specialism.
No
CG commented at one time a specialism attracted money but that no longer exists.
A.
Q.
A.
Ethos of each school? Would the priority for each school adapt or change?
No we can maintain all the elements we value highly at the present.
Q.
A.
Would or could a Speech and Language specialist be considered?
We could employ 1 person to work in all schools in the Umbrella Trust?
Q.
The comment was passed that it is a disappointing turnout, is there any plan to
feedback questions and answers from this session.
Yes minutes are being taken and all schools will have access to them.
A.
Q.
A.
Do you see your day job changing? (directed to HH Head KE)
Yes, I would like to get in classrooms more. Perhaps a Business Manager can take
away the business elements of the job so we can lead and manage but also spend
more time at the chalk face.
From the floor –
This is not just a rushed proposal- it’s a trying time for Head Teachers – and today is
the culmination of lot of hard work and talk.
.
Q.
Who will make the changes? Governing body?
A.
Each school
The Raising Achievement Board will be set up to oversee the progress of the
Umbrella Trust. Each school will decide on the Governing Body.
Q.
A.
If you are not tied to a specific Governing Body who will be your Governing Body?
Sunnyside Governing Body will transfer over. (AD)
Q.
A.
So who will have ultimate responsibility for appointing Governors?
3 trust members will then appoint Governors.
(3 trust members not decided.) All GB will be accountable to Ofsted. If the school
was to fail – the Trust would be held to account. There will still be a structure in each school.
CD Head at The Kings Academy is not a Governor – they invite the Head to
meetings (3 times a year.)
Q.
A.
Q.
A.
Under the umbrella, if one school’s standards are falling and the school is failing, how
much time and effort would be put into improving the failing school?
The time and effort put into sharing good practice would not be detrimental to the
other schools. The RAB would intervene and other agencies would be involved.
Could any failing school bring down others?
No
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Mr Elliott, Chair of Governors HH thanked everyone, including Head Teachers and
Mr Colin Geddes for attending.
Meeting declared closed at 7.17pm
Minutes recorded by S.E Lockney (Deputy Head, HH School)
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