Presentation to Parents Mrs Arlidge CEO Wellsway Multi Academy Trust and Interim Headteacher
Purpose of this evening 1. To consult with parents/carers on the proposal for SBL to convert to an Academy as part of Wellsway Multi Academy Trust
2. To explain the changes planned as part of the process of school improvements
Academy consultation • Ofsted inspection February 2014 • DfE required SBL to become a sponsored academy • LA and DfE approached Wellsway Multi Academy Trust • SBL Governing Body voted to accept Wellsway Multi Academy Trust as sponsor July 2014
Wellsway Multi Academy Trust Vision • Our vision is for the Wellsway Multi Academy Trust to become a strong local partnership of schools that is cross-phase with a fully inclusive range of provision • Each academy within the Trust will have its own unique characteristics and the aim will be for each school to be an outstanding, autonomous school • Collaboration and joint working will ensure that all academies in the Trust can share in, and benefit from, each other’s strengths
What is an academy? • A state school that is run independently of the local authority by an Academy Trust (Board of Governors) • Becomes a company registered with Companies House (a company limited by guarantee) • Governors become directors of the company • Employs the staff • Owns (or leases)the land and buildings • Signs a 7 year funding agreement with the Secretary of State for Education • Procures its own services
Two types of academies: • Converter academies • Sponsored academies
What is a sponsored academy? • A school that requires additional support to be Good • The sponsor is responsible for making sure that the school improves • Sponsors are individual schools or multi academy trusts with a track record of success
A Multi Academy Trust • Run by a Trust Board (Directors and Trustees)
• Individual school governing bodies responsible for monitoring and challenging the school
Trust Board
Finance & Resources Committee
Wellsway School LGB
The SBL School LGB (joining Feb 2015)
Remuneration & Selection Committe
The Bath Studio School LGB
Audit & Risk Committee
Aspire Academy LGB
IKB Studio School LGB (opening Sept 2015)
Benefits of being part of a multi academy trust • Economics of scale • School to school support • Shared services • Shared staff
• Shared educational provision
Consultation Questions
School Improvement and Planned Changes
Ofsted Monitoring Visit • 3rd/4th December, 2014 • Led by HMI, Mr Simon Rowe • Team of 3 inspectors • Focus on quality of teaching and learning • School making ‘reasonable progress towards the removal of special measures’
Headlines “Students are making much better progress” “The quality of teaching is much improved” “Students’ behaviour and attitudes to learning have improved”
“The rate of improvement is accelerating”
Areas for further development • Progress of SEN students and those entitled to Pupil Premium funding • Marking – particularly students’ response to marking • Challenge for most able students • Uniform
Next Steps • Inspectors praised the plans in place to improve the school • From January 2015: • Improving learning • Improving uniform • Improving behaviour and safety
Improving Learning • New timetable • Focus on homework • Responses to marking • Attendance and punctuality • Staff training programme