Trust Status: The Whys and Hows of Chase Learning Trust

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Trust Status The Whys and Hows of Chase
Learning Trust

• The Vision, Process and Intended Outcomes for
  Kingsmead Technology College
• Chris Hilton and Mike Donoghue

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Trust schools are NOT

• Academies
• GM schools
• Independent schools
• Involved in an admissions free for all
• Funded differently from community schools
• Run by businesses
• Separated from the LA
• Able to avoid LA reorganisation plans

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What is a Trust school?

• A maintained foundation school supported by a
  charitable Trust
• The aim is to use the experience, energy and
  expertise from other schools and professions as a
  lever to raise standards in schools

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Characteristics of a Trust school

• A new type of foundation school similar to the VA
  model
• An LA maintained school funded on that basis
• The land and buildings are held in Trust
• Has a budget delegated to the governing body
• Follows the national curriculum
• Adheres to national agreements on pay and
  conditions

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Possible issues addressed by the Trust format

• 14-19 strategy and the vocational offer
• The ECM agenda
• Extended school services
• Post 16 provision
• Raising standards of schools in challenging
  circumstances
• Staffing issues
• Community regeneration
• Sharing specialism strengths

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Possible models (Ref Toolkit)

• There is no single blueprint for how Trust
  schools will work schools can choose who to
  work with and how.
• Trusts can involve one or more partners a
  school can choose to work with a Trust formed by
  a single partner or by several partners. Either
  approach would help to put relationships on a
  more stable and sustainable footing and
  strengthen the schools leadership and direction
  by drawing on partners energy and expertise.
• Trusts can support an individual school or
  groups of two or more schools a shared Trust
  can strengthen a common sense of direction (and
  help to spread good practice) by appointing
  governors for each school. It could also underpin
  other forms of collaboration, and provide more
  stability than informal partnership, so that the
  collaboration continues, even if key individuals
  move on.

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The Process
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The Chase Learning Trust

• Two schools Hazel Slade Primary, Kingsmead
• Trust partners Cannock Chase District Council,
  University of Wolverhampton, Mid-Staffordshire
  Healthcare NHS Trust, Staffordshire Local
  Authority
• Affiliate partner National Education Trust

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Vision

• The Chase Learning Trust, through collaboration,
  will enable outstanding provision for children
  and young people in the communities of the
  Trusts schools within the framework of Every
  Child Matters.
• The Trust schools remain committed to working as
  schools serving their communities in partnership
  with Staffordshire Local Authority and community
  schools.

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Intended Outcomes

• The focus of Chase Learning Trust is to
• To advance and enhance the development and
  education of people of all ages through Every
  Child Matters
• validated by receipt of the Every Child
  Matters Gold Award within two years of the
  establishment of the Trust
• To develop the learning community
• -within two years, the infrastructure,
  systems and networks would be operational
• To access resources to enable the Trust to fulfil
  its vision.
• -to access funding sources that will
  further develop the Trusts capacity to deliver
  Every Child Matters in new, innovative ways
  including research opportunities and
  cross-institutional activities

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Milestones

• 7 September 2007 Documentation made available to
  schools from DCSF for consideration Early
  Adopters seminars, and grant available to
  explore possibilities
• 18 September 2007 Mary Neate from SSAT makes
  presentation to local primary and secondary
  schools at Kingsmead re Trust Status
• 15 October 2007 Voluntary staff meeting on
  Trust Status, attended by 40 staff including
  all teaching union representatives.

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And

• 31 October 2007 Expression of Interest
  submitted.
• 25 June 2008 Joint Governors meeting where
  formal consultation is agreed.
• 19th September 2008 Consultation begins
• 17th October 2008 Consultation period ends.
• Governors reflect on consultation responses and
  decide whether to proceed, and if so, whether
  amendments are required following consultation
• Further dialogue between partners, with staff,
  with union representatives, parents etc.

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and

• March April Statutory four week period for
  publication of notices and representations
• 23rd April Governors at both Hazel Slade and
  Kingsmead decide to form a trust
• Now Land searches and transfers, drafting of
  Memoranda and Articles of Association, agreement
  re support staff pensions, admissions policy
  clarification, searches (fit and proper, CRB)
  on trustees, adopting a new Instrument of
  Government,
• 1st September 2009 Chase Learning Trust is a
  legal entity.

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Lessons learned

• One co-ordinator (with administrative support),
  but The Governing Bodys plans
• Establish a clear vision
• Share it, and appreciate the different starting
  points of your multiple audiences
• Take a measured approach, and refer to the
  regulation at every stage. File and evidence
  EVERYTHING!
• Consult as widely as you think you should.
  People hate feeling marginalised, even if there
  is no obligation to inform them.
• Do not underestimate the political dimension to
  what may appear to you to be about better
  provision and raising achievement
• Use expertise wherever you find it (SSAT, LA,
  solicitors, other Trust schools).

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For more information

• www.ktconline.org.uk/events/Trust_Status/
• Our documents, links to DCSF Toolkit ( a must
  read) and other publications.