Inspire MAT
Route to registration and start up
What we know at this stage
• 10 or more schools want to be in the first tranche of IMAT adopters
• The DfE have assigned a Project Lead
• The Regional Commissioner is aware of the outline proposal and likes the
model
• Hall Meadow PS Governing Body have passed an resolution to start the
academy process
• The LA are aware of the outline proposal and are supportive
What we need to know or agree
today
• The names of the 10 or more schools that want to be in the first
tranche of IMAT adopters and the key players in each case
• The size and scope of the enterprise/project
• How we are to construct and empower the Steering Group
• How we are to manage the project
What will the IMAT look like?
Academy
1
Academy
10
Academy
9
Academy
2
Inspire
Education
Trust
Academy
8
Academy
3
Academy
5
Academy
7
Academy
6
Inspire
Teaching
School
Essential first steps
1. The schools need to form a steering group that will undertake to write the
Ethos Statement and Education Plan and oversee the whole process.
2. Each school should assign a single point of contact to liaise steering group,
lawyers and the DfE. That person will be the school’s project manager.
3. The project manager, Headteacher and Chair of Governors in each school
should all be familiar with the documentation and processes outlined in:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/convert-to-an-academy-information-forschools
A twin track approach
1. A small steering group will need to liaise on behalf of the planned
MAT with the DfE, the legal advisers and the Local Authority. (The
responsibilities and actions of the steering group will be in blue
script or text boxes in the following slides.)
2. Each school will need a project manager who will steer the
individual school through the process. (Their responsibilities and
actions will be in brown script or text boxes.)
Timeline
1. The DfE will want us to be clear about a start date. The following
assumes a start date of April 2017.
The core of the project
1.
Each school has to make a separate application
2.
The DfE will assign us a single project lead to avoid confusion
3.
All the application will share two key elements
1. The Ethos Statement
2. The Education plan
Timeline - steering group
April 16
Write the
Ethos
statement
Appoint
solicitors
Start to
construct
governance
structure
May 16
Write the
Education
plan
showing
core values
and how the
ITSA will
generate
and
maintain
excellence
June 16
Publish
Ethos and
Education
Plans for
consultation
Finalise and
publish
governance
structure for
consultation
July 16
Finalise the
Governance
structure,
Ethos
Statement
and
Education
Plan for
distribution
to all schools
Timeline – project managers
April 16
Register
school’s
interest with
DfE using the
online system
Alert DfE
Project Lead to
planned IMAT
involvement
Inform DfE PL
if school is
subject to PFI
May 16
Ensure HT and
CoG read the
Financial
Memorandum
June 16
Get GB
consent in the
form of a vote
to convert
Collate 3 years
financial and
pupil
outcomes data
and Ofsted
reports.
Discuss these
with DfE PL
Get consent
from
Foundation if
school is
subject to one
Get LGPS to
provide an
actuarial
assessment of
pension costs
July 16
Consult with
staff and
parents about
your plans
Consult others
on your site
that may
reasonably
have an
interest.
Inform the LA
of your
intentions
Timeline – July 16 end
• We will need points at which KPIs can be checked…
• RAG meeting of the Steering Group with the PMs to check
that all prior stages are complete
What we need to know or agree
today
• The names of the 10 or more schools that want to be in the first
tranche of IMAT adopters and the key players in each case
• The size and scope of the enterprise/project
• How we are to construct and empower the Steering Group
• How we are to manage the project