The Leek Federation - Churnet View Middle School

The Leek FederationPublic Consultation BookletProposed Hard Federation of three of the Secondary Schools in Leekfrom 1st September 2012What to do nextRead this document entitled Public Consultation Booklet which provides an overview of theissues faced by the schools, the proposal being put forward, the implications of theseproposals and what happens next.You may wish to attend one of the consultation meetings and/or return the Response Form tocomment on this consultation.Copies of the booklet and the response form can be obtained from the schools or downloadedfrom the school websites:www.churnetview.staffs.sch.ukwww.leekhigh.staffs.sch.ukwww.westwoodcollege.coop1. ProposalThere is a long history of all of the schools in Leek working together in partnership. As Leekhas a three tier system there are four schools deemed to be Secondary Schools and these fourschools have always worked closely together on all issues relating to the education of ouryoung people. The four schools are• Churnet View Middle School• Leek High Specialist Technology School• St Edward’s CE (A) Junior High School• Westwood CollegeIn order to be able to continue to offer an outstanding education, at a time of declining schoolincomes and a radically changed County Council structure, the following three of the schoolspropose that, from 1 st September 2012, they enter into a Hard Federation, in accordance withThe School Governance (Federations) (England) Regulations 2007:• Churnet View Middle School• Leek High Specialist Technology School• Westwood CollegeA Hard Federation is a formal and legal agreement by which these three schools will have asingle Governing Body. However, each school will also create a School Management Committeethat will look after the interests of that school.The Hard Federation, of the three schools, will be formally known as ‘THE LEEK FEDERATION’.IN ADDITION, St Edward’s Junior High School will enter into a formal collaboration with thethree other schools so that all four schools can work together to further improve outcomes forthe young people of Leek and The Moorlands. For legal reasons around their church status it isnot possible for St Edward’s to federate under the same terms and conditions as the otherschools. However, St Edward’s Junior High School will have representation on the FederationGoverning Body and on the committees of the new Governing Body. Schools in The Leek1

Federation will, likewise, have representation on the Governing Body of St Edward’s Junior HighSchool. In this way all four schools can continue to work together to share and realise acommon vision that will maintain the three tier system, building upon the superb work beingdone in the First Schools.All schools will retain their own identity and remain on their current site.2. Backgrounda) A history of collaborationAs stated previously there has been a long history of working together amongst all of theschools in Leek. The four schools believe that this proposal is a commitment to a shared visionbased on a solid existing partnership.The benefits and successes of existing collaborative workThe benefits of collaborative working so far have included:• We have been able to improve results for young people by offering an increasedrange of opportunities. There has been the chance to develop programmes of studyacross the schools, for example, work with Gifted and Talented and Special Needsstudents in the Performing Arts• We have tackled issues relating to families and communities more effectively, forexample, in our work with vulnerable families and on inclusion. We have been able touse our Family Support Workers in a very effective way, to benefit families across allthe tiers in the town• We have addresses issues relating to attainment and achievement more effectively,for example, our staff have been able to share good practice• We have improved teaching and learning and provided better quality trainingopportunities for all staff, and been able to have joint Training days with keynotespeakers• We have achieved economies of scale in purchasing policy, for example, ICTprocurement, ICT technical support, administrative supplies, grounds maintenancework• We have secured savings in planning and administrative time• We have been able to plan strategically across the schools and have developed ashared sense of identity and a common sense of purpose• We have increased our capacity to improve learning in all of the schools, forexample, by sharing good practice in the teaching of Mathematics• We have joined together to access extended services, such as Health and EducationalWelfare• We have improved further the transition of students into, between and from schools,as staff from the schools have met regularly to share information on individualstudentsb) Strengthening the bondsThe schools have made a commitment to work ever more closely together to gain themaximum benefit for the young people of our schools by sharing expertise, facilities andbuilding on the success of the long-standing successful collaboration.2

The Governing Bodies, of the three schools, have declared their intention to move to a HardFederation. This will mean that one Governing Body will strategically lead all three schools,ensuring the smoothest possible route for our 9-19 year olds. The advantage of a HardFederation is that it will strengthen significantly the permanent long term relationship betweenthe schools in the Federation.In addition, the Governing Body of St Edward’s Junior High School, has declared its intention tocollaborate very closely with the Leek Federation at all levels, including by contributing to theGovernance and the structure and function of the four schools’ leadership teams.3. What do these proposals, to include a Hard Federation of three of theschools, mean for the four schools?The proposals that we are consulting on are the logical development of the collaborativearrangements that we already have in place.The Hard Federation, of the three schools, with strong collaboration with St Edward’s JuniorHigh School, is an opportunity for all four schools to work closely together whilst retainingtheir own character and ethos. Our four schools have been working successfully in partnershipfor a number of years now and this arrangement, that includes a Hard Federation, is seen as anopportunity to formalise the arrangements and continue to build on the progress being made.The key features of our proposals at a glance are:• A single Federated Governing Body, with representation for St Edward’s Junior HighSchool, will be able to make efficient, streamlined decisions in all aspects of schoolimprovement planning. The arrangement will, therefore, be a true partnership• Whilst all three federated schools will continue to receive a separate budget basedon the Staffordshire and national formulae, the new joint Governing Body will havegreater flexibility in the spending of the budgets to best meet the needs of thechildren in all three of the schools• Shared management positions and other staff appointments are agreed in a simple,effective manner because there is a single Governing Body. A post of ExecutivePrincipal across the federated schools will be established but each school will alsoretain its current Head teacher• All three schools in the Hard Federation will retain their own separate identity andkeep their unique Department for Education (DfE) number and a separate budget;they will keep their own name and have separate accountability to Ofsted for thequality of education provided and the standards achieved• The new Governing Body cannot require existing staff to work across all fourschools within the partnership, but can appoint new staff to do so• St Edward’s Junior High School, by collaborating with the Leek Federation, will befull participants in all of the planning decisions that help shape the future ofeducational provision in the secondary sector in the town• This arrangement will enable St Edward’s Junior High School to be full participantswhilst retaining their religious ethos and full control of their staffing, land andbuildings that are held in trust by the Church of England; none of the other threeschools have this complication4. The Hard Federation ProcessAs previously indicated, schools wishing to federate must ensure that The School Governance(Federations) (England) Regulations 2007 are followed and must include formal consultationwith parents, staff, Local Authority and other stakeholders. This report forms the basis of theconsultation process and all views will be taken into account by the Governing Bodies of allthree schools.3

• The Academies programme is likely to result in many schools becomingindependent of the Local Authority• Nationally the three tier system is under threat in a number of Local Authorities7. Leadership and Staffing of the FederationLeadership TeamEvery school must have a substantive (legal) Head Teacher. It is proposed that there will be anExecutive Principal who will provide strategic leadership across the Federation and thepartnership. The current Head Teachers of the schools will remain and have legalresponsibility for that school.Other StaffIn the federated schools staff will remain contracted to the school to which they were originallyappointed to, prior to the Federation, undertaking duties in that school. One of the benefits ofschools federating is that it may be possible, on occasion, to deploy staff across the schools tohelp support identified needs.However, once the three schools are formally federated then the new Governing Body will havethe option of appointing any new staff to work in one or all of the schools. The Governors of StEdward’s Junior High School may also choose to participate in any joint appointments, with theagreement of the federated Governing Body.All appointments will remain subject to The School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009.8. Admissions to the Federated SchoolsStudent admissions to the four schools will continue to be organised by Staffordshire LocalAuthority and there will be NO CHANGE to the process for admissions in all of the fourschools.9. Composition of the Federation Governing Body in the three FederatedSchoolsIt is proposed that a new Governing Body of 28 members be established with the followingcomposition:Proposed number ofTypes of Governorgovernors in eachcategoryParent (to be elected) 9Staff (to be elected) 7Local Authority 6Community 3Foundation 3TOTAL 28The Foundation Governors will comprise of two from St Edward’s Junior High School,representing the Church of England, and one from The Westwood College CooperativeLearning Trust, representing the Trustees.6

10. Consultation ProcessThe consultation process is the opportunity for all those associated with our schools to maketheir views known regarding the proposals. The consultation period is directly concerned withthe Hard Federation, but time has been allowed for the parents of St Edward’s Junior HighSchool to express their views too. The consultation period will commence with the publicationof the document on 5 th March 2012. The consultation period will last for 6 weeks, ending on27 th April 2012 and will include a series of consultation meetings to be held in each school.Details of these are:Meeting Staff and Unions Parents / PublicSt Edward’s CE (A) Junior HighSchool4 – 5 pm 6 – 7 pm26th March 2012Churnet View Middle School27th March 20124 – 5 pm 6 – 7 pmLeek High School4 – 5 pm28th March 20126 – 7 pmWestwood College29th March 20124 – 5 pm 6 – 7 pmYour views on the two proposals are important and we look forward to seeing you at themeetings. Written responses on the forms provided are also welcomed and should be sent tothe respective Chair of Governors at the schools before 27 th April 2012.Contact details are as follows:Chair ofGovernorsMrs J GreggMrs E MurfinRevd M ParkerMs A BennettSchool addressChurnet View Middle SchoolChurnet ViewLeekStaffordshire. ST13 6PULeek High Specialist TechnologySchoolSpringfield RoadLeekStaffordshire. ST13 6EUSt Edward’s Junior High SchoolWestwood RoadLeekStaffordshire. ST13 8DNWestwood CollegeWestwood ParkLeekStaffordshire. ST13 8NPEmail addressconsultation@churnetview.staffs.sch.ukconsultation @leekhigh.staffs.sch.ukconsultation @st-edwards.staffs.sch.ukconsultation @westwoodcollege.coop7

Churnet View Middle School andThe Leek FederationPublic Consultation QuestionnairePlease fill in the consultation questionnaire below. If you need more space, please feel free toattach separate sheets, marked with the relevant question numbers.Please return any response by email, post or by hand no later than noon onFriday 27 th April 2012 to:orconsultation@churnetview.staffs.sch.ukFederation ConsultationChurnet View Middle SchoolChurnet ViewLeekStaffordshireST13 6PUFurther details can be found on the school website www.churnetview.staffs.sch.ukIt would be useful if you could provide us with your contact details, especially if you representa particular organisation, but you do not need to do so.Thank you.Name:Parent/Staff/Other:Address:……………………………………………………….……………………………………………………….……………………………………………………….……………………………………………………….Telephone:……………………………………………………….1. How do you feel about the school entering into a Hard Federation with Leek HighSpecialist Technology School and Westwood College?Please tick QuestionsI support the proposalsI am not sure and would like more information (particularly on … )I do not think the school should enter a Hard Federation because…8

2. How do you feel about the proposed partners in the Federation?Please tick QuestionsThese are the right partnersI am concerned about the school working with …Because …I think the school should also think about working with …3. How do you feel about our vision?Our aim/vision is to achieve better outcomes for all young people by:• raising standards of achievement by focussing on the core business of learning andteaching;• delivering a skills based curriculum that is tailored to individual learning needs;• promoting the spiritual, moral, social, emotional and cultural development of everylearner;• working together to maximise the power of mutual collaboration and support;• sharing resources, staff, areas of expertise and facilities to achieve economies of scale;• developing highly effective leadership at all levels and pooling strategic capacity.Please tick QuestionsThis is right for the FederationI do not think …Should be a priority in the vision because …I would like to see …Included in the Federation’s vision.4. Do you have any other comments, concerns or suggestions that we should think about?Thank you for completing and returning this response form.9