Gosford Hill School
Summer Term 2012
Academy Conversion Open Meeting
Welcome
Open Meetings
This is the first of a number of consultation meetings
Wed 2nd May Open Meeting
Thur 17th May Open Meeting
Wed 23rd May Open Meeting
Main Hall
Learning Centre
Main Hall
We wish to consult with:
• Parents and carers
• Students
• Primary Partners and their Parents
• Community Groups
• Local Authority
6.00-7.00pm
5.30-6.30pm
6.30-7.30pm
Outline of Presentation
1. The national context
2. What are Academies?
3. The local context
4. The school context – reasons for consultation
5. The consultation process
1. The National Context
May 2010: New coalition Government
Elected. Michael Gove announces major
changes to the English Education system
Sept 2010: First converter academies open (non sponsored)
Government confirm major changes to school funding
Jan 12: New stricter Ofsted Inspection judgements start
2012
April 2012 : Over half the secondary schools in England are
either already academies or are about to convert to an
academy
2. What are Academies? (1)
• Publically funded independent local schools
• Free from local education authority
• Funded via Department for Education
• Increased funding
• Ability to buy in services
• Governors members of Academy Trust (a charitable
company limited by Guarantee)
• Governors are direct employers of school staff
• Buildings owned by trust leased from the local authority
2. What are Academies? (2)
• Have to adopt fair and clear admission arrangements
• Funded per pupil (as now)
• Schools that have been judged at least ‘good’ by Ofsted
• Funded the same as Local Authority but with additional
funding that the LA ‘top slices’ and spends centrally
3. The Local Context
“The Council supports the Government's programme to
establish academies”
“We believe that academies are one potential component to
our refreshed drive to raise standards”
(OCC letter to schools February 2012)
In a report to Cabinet in regard to the future of education in Oxfordshire 14th February
2012 it was made clear that the report was to:
“Clearly state the Council’s support for the conversion of
schools to become academies”
Over half of secondary schools in Oxfordshire are already
Academies or are in the process of converting/consulting.
4. The School Context – reasons for
consultation (1)
• Changing demographics in Kidlington – no new build for
some time
• Population growing older
• Falling numbers of children in primary school
• Therefore less students in Gosford
• Gosford has got smaller
• Jan 2008 school population 1138 – estimated to be 874 by
Jan 2014
• Funding based on numbers with money held back
centrally
4. The School Context – reasons for
consultation (2)
• Higher standards in exam results
• 44% in 2007 to 59% in 2011 5A*CEM (increase of 15%)
• 55% in 2007 to 75% in 2011 5A*C (increase of 20%)
• Judged ‘Good’ in every category by Ofsted Feb 2012
Funding based on student numbers
Funding changed in 6th form
So if journey is to continue we need a new funding stream
Academy approximately £150.000 every year
5. The Consultation process
• Ends 30th May
• Consultation document available on website and sent to
all parents
• Information to primary partners
• Letters to Community Groups and LA
• FAQs
• Additional question forms
• 3 open meetings for parents and community groups
We now know what we can do through working together