The Stourbridge Educational Trust

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The Stourbridge Educational Trust

• Consultation 12th March 08

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Where are we?

• 19th February. Governors of RHS, Redhill, Thorns
  PTC considered a proposal to change school
  category from community schools to foundation
  schools that will acquire charitable trust status
  as part of a collaborative Stourbridge Trust from
  September 2008.
• All four Governing bodies were in favour of
  commencing formal consultation.

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The consultation process

• Letter and information to all stakeholders
  parents, staff, community groups, etc
• Open meetings
• Written comments
• Consultation ends 12.00 noon Fri 21st March

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Why this change?

• A formal local partnership Stourbridge schools
  working together to manage certain key issues
• Sustainable collaboration
• Political strength security - 4000 students,
  600 staff
• Potential for attracting support / finance

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Stourbridge solutions

• 14-19 developments, Personalised learning,
  Diplomas,
• Quality teaching learning Professional
  development of staff teachers, leaders and
  managers, support staff
• Every Child Matters Be healthy, stay safe, enjoy
  achieve, make positive contribution, economic
  well being

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Why Foundation status?

• All partner schools must become Foundation
  Schools to form a Trust
• The two processes of change will be followed
  together
• Each Governing body will assume new
  responsibilities under Foundation Status,
• - employment of staff
• - admissions
• - ownership of the estate

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What will this mean - Staffing?

• All existing staff (teaching and non-teaching)
  will transfer under TUPE (Transfer of
  undertakings-protection of employment-regulations)
  arrangements which protect their existing
  conditions of service
• New non-teaching staff appointed will have
  contracts, terms conditions set out by the
  employer (Governing body) that should be no less
  favourable than those applying to existing staff.

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What will this mean Admissions?

• The four Trust schools will agree operate a
  common admissions policy for Stourbridge, based
  on current code criteria no selection
• The Trust would seek to ease transition and
  secure and guarantee admissions to pupils from
  Stourbridge aged 4 through to 18 beyond,
  through its partnership.

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What will this mean Estate?

• Under foundation status ownership of the land
  buildings transfers to the Governors
• The Trust will then hold each schools land
  buildings on trust
• Each individual Governing body will remain
  responsible for the day to day management of the
  site, etc

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What is a Trust?

• A Foundation is a corporate body with charitable
  status (registered with the charities commission)
• A Trust is a Foundation (charitable company) that
  is limited by guarantee
• A Trust school will still be maintained by the LA
  but supported by a charitable trust
• The Trust will appoint Governors from all
  partners to a Trust board (schools in majority)
• The purpose must include the advancement of
  education of pupils at the schools in respect of
  which it acts as the foundation in the areas
  identified within the memorandum articles of
  association

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What is it not?

• A move to independent, federated or Academy
  schools
• One school or Group taking over another
• Schools losing their own identity part of the
  strength is in the diversity

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Agreed Vision

• To create a sustainable centre of excellence for
  learning within Stourbridge that will forge
  through collaboration an educational entitlement
  for all that builds upon
• existing outstanding practice
• the specialisms of the institutions
• the expertise of the local community partners

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The Stourbridge Educational Trust
Thorns Performing Arts Training School
Redhill Languages
Ridgewood Science
Pedmore Technology
TSET
Business Partner Financial sector
Associate Partners
University Partner
Stourbridge College
King Edwards College
Dudley LA
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Focus areas

• The Stourbridge Trust will focus on the
• advancement of education and the raising of
• standards by
• Providing sustainable learning pathways for all
  students (14-19)
• Extending enhancing the CPD of staff
• Guaranteeing the pre-eminence of ECM outcomes

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Timeline

• Jan Legal advice agreed Schofield Sweeney
• 19th Feb Governors meetings
• 20th Feb Formal consultation (4 weeks)
• 19th Mar Consultation closes
• 21st April Governors decide to proceed?
• Publish statutory notice
• 19th May Governors meet make final decision
• 2nd June Foundation status confirmed, inform
  stakeholders
• 1st Sept Trust in place Board set up