PARTNERSHIP - RESPONSIBILITY - EXCELLENCE - OPPORTUNITY
17th November 2015
Dear Parent / Carer Following the inspection of Ashington High School in January 2015, the Local Authority and advisers from the Department of Education (DfE) have been discussing with the Ashington Learning Partnership’s Governing Body the steps for the school to become a sponsored academy. The DfE has the power to intervene in the designation of all state schools placed in an Ofsted category. While a sponsor for the High School has not yet been identified, the Local Authority has decided to take an intermediate step by applying to the DfE to replace the Governing Body with an Interim Executive Board (IEB) to lead the school’s improvement journey. Given this, and the fact that the Governing Body is also responsible for Bothal and Central Primary Schools, the High School will need to be removed from the Ashington Learning Partnership to enable an IEB to assume responsibility for the High School only. In order to consider removing Ashington High School from the Ashington Learning Partnership (ALP) I am now legally required to initiate a period of consultation prior to any decision being made. The government’s education reform policy is underpinned by a commitment to extend the academy programme. Indeed, the Prime Minister has recently announced he wants to see all schools in England become academies, irrespective of how they are performing. Clearly this government policy is inevitably going to affect our schools within the ALP and it will therefore require some level of restructuring. Change is nothing new to us, we have dealt effectively with it before and with your support we will do so again. The last few months have been challenging and uncertain for all of us in the ALP. The Ofsted inspection of our High School in January 2015 was disappointing, although we are very encouraged by the monitoring visit in September evidencing that ‘the school is taking effective action towards the removal of special measures’. We remain absolutely committed to getting back on track towards it being an outstanding school in which to learn and teach. As a consequence of the circumstances outlined above and in line with the inevitability of national government policy, we are today starting a period of consultation on Ashington High School withdrawing from the ALP with a view to it becoming a sponsored academy. Our two primary schools will remain within the ALP and will not become part of the sponsored academy. I would stress that this consultation is only in respect of Ashington High School leaving the ALP. At this stage, we have no information on potential academy sponsors and conversion to sponsored academy status would be subject to a separate process. As things stand today, I can offer you two certainties. First, irrespective of the future structure and governance of the high school and the two primaries that together form the ALP, our schools will always be committed to providing the very best and safest environments in which children can learn. Second, all of us who work, learn or care for children within our schools are facing a period of further uncertainty. There will be further changes down the line but until we have completed the first stage in this process, none of us can be sure of what those changes will entail. The governing body of the ALP will meet at 5:00pm on 30th November 2015 to discuss this proposal and we would welcome your views ahead of this meeting, at which a formal decision will be made. If you would like to comment on this proposal, could I please invite you to do so in writing to Brian Caisley, Ashington High School, Green Lane, Ashington NE63 8DH or by email to
[email protected]. If they are to be considered by governors, any comments must be received by 2:00pm on Monday 30th November. Yours sincerely
Chris Smith Chair of Governors