The Elizabethan Academy: Independent Thinking
An update for parents
Dear Parent/Carer
I am writing to update you on the progress of our application to convert to an Academy.
You will remember that, in the Summer Term, I wrote to you to explain that the Governors were considering applying
th
to become an Academy. We held an open consultation meeting with parents on Monday 11 July which was attended
by a small number of parents, mainly those who live in Worksop and wanted to know whether we would be forming a
similar academy to the Outwood model at Portland and Valley. We reassured them that our proposal is quite different.
The Elizabethan is regarded as a „good‟ school, by the Department for Education, so we can become an „independent‟
or „stand-alone‟ Academy. We do not need a sponsor and we have chosen not to become part of a big chain of
Academies. We value the current school ethos and want to develop our culture and the way we do things, along the
same lines as we have done up to now; we want to continue to shape the direction of the school without influence
from other organisations. Although we gain a great deal from working in partnership with other schools, we want to
continue to make the right choices for our local community. We like being different and have a lot to be proud of.
We now have our Academy Order which means we can begin the legal work involved in converting to an Academy, so
I have sent you another copy of the most frequent „Questions and Answers.‟ We originally planned to convert in
st
January but there have been some delays for all PFI schools and it is now likely to be 1 March. The final decision
will not be taken until Governors have completed the process.
We believe that this Government‟s plans for education include every school eventually becoming an Academy.
Already we are noticing that the services provided by the Local Authority are dwindling and yet, we are continuing to
have to pay for them.
Consequently, our Governors believe that, in the current educational climate, converting to an academy will:




Bring more opportunities for students and support us in continuing to raise standards;
Bring more funding directly into the school budget and give us the flexibility to purchase the services we need to
meet our local priorities;
Enable us to continue to work in close partnership with our feeder primary schools, as a Family Collaboration;
Enable us to maintain our well-deserved reputation and ethos: we believe strongly that every student has talent
and can be successful; that young people need to be creative, independent learners. This is why parents choose
to send their children to our school and it is important that our values do not change.
The bottom line is……….more money will come directly into school budget to be spent on your children’s
education.
If you have any questions, please continue to email me at [email protected]
Yours sincerely
Lynn Kenworthy
Headteacher
November 2011
Academy Status – Common Questions / Answers – July 2011
1. What is an ‘Academy’?
An Academy is an „independent‟ state-funded school that receives its funding direct from the Department for
Education (DFE). Academies are independent of the LA but are still regulated by the DFE, and inspected by Ofsted.
The original academies were designed to raise standards and improve provision in some schools that were struggling
; the new version of academies focuses on „outstanding‟ and „good‟ schools taking a lead in improving education for
all. Ultimately, the intention of the current government is that all schools will become academies.
2. Do Academies have to have a sponsor?
No. Some schools can now convert without a sponsor e.g. another schools, charities, businesses, universities etc.
The Elizabethan does not plan to become part of a big chain – we shall convert as a “stand-alone” academy. We will,
however, work in partnership with other schools because we can see great benefits in sharing best practice. We
already have some strong partnerships with other secondary schools and with our primary Family of schools.
3. Is there a financial incentive?
Currently, „yes‟, and those converting first are likely to gain the most benefit. 10% of a school‟s budget is currently „topsliced‟ by the Local Authority to pay for central services (around £450,000 for us). Each school can then have those
services back for free, or at a subsidised rate. We currently use some of the services but not all of them, and services
are variable in quality. Academy status means that we can then decide which services to buy back and from where.
From September, the financial incentive is reducing but it will still be a sizeable amount of money. I have talked to a
number of schools that have converted already and they believe that they can buy the services they need for a third of
the cost of current services. This leaves a sum of money to reinvest in children‟s education.
4. Why does The Elizabethan want to become an Academy?
We have made huge progress in ensuring that all students make good progress, as seen in our exam results. Our
drive is to be „outstanding‟ at our next inspection. We can achieve this by taking control of our own future : to develop
young people into independent learners; creative thinkers; future leaders.
5. How would leadership and governance change?
A new „Academy Trust‟ would be set up; this is a small group ( at least 3 ) and can be made up of sponsors or, if there
are no sponsors, made up of people who are on the existing Governing Body. The Governing Body will access legal
support, paid for by a grant from the DFE, to set up an effective Trust and Governing Body to lead the Academy. The
LA continues to have statutory duties in relation to such areas as special needs, admissions and school transport. We
would continue to have a good working relationship with the LA but it will be different.
6. Will the name of the school be changed or the ethos/values changed?
This would be a decision for the Trust but there are no plans to change the title „The Elizabethan‟. We have good
reputation, a strong heritage, a track record of success, and our values will not change.
7. What about admissions? Will the school be selective?
No. Tbe Elizabethan is an inclusive school and we will not select students by ability and will continue to cater for
students with special educational needs. All schools, including Academies, have to work to the same Admissions
Code so that the system is fair and parents continue to have a choice.
8. What would be the timescale if the proposals were given the go ahead?
If we proceed with conversion, the aim would be to complete the process for January 2012.
9. Will being an Academy mean more work for the school?
Yes. The transfer of some responsibilities and duties from the LA to the school will mean additional administrative,
personnel and financial work for the school. Services, such as payroll, could simply be bought back from the LA or
another provider. Our research indicates that the additional costs will be considerably outweighed by the additional
income.
10. Will students notice any changes?
Probably not. The changes will be to the way the school is managed. However, the extra funding will mean that we
can target resources to support their learning, to invest in extra staffing, to increase curriculum breadth, to reduce
class sizes or provide more support. So, yes, students will benefit directly….and this must be our main reason for
taking this important step.