Academisation

MAT UPDATE - Application Approved by Regional Schools Commissioner

We had some exciting news just before the half term holiday which effects the whole school community and I am happy to share this with you.

In Autumn term, the Governing Body undertook a consultation exercise regarding joining the West Lakes' Multi-Academy Trust. We have been working with the trust over recent months and taken your thoughts on-board. The Governing Body unanimously agreed to pursue an application to the regional schools commissioner to join the West Lakes MAT in December 2018. This has been approved subject to a period of due diligence. During the next few months we will be looking more deeply into the legal and financial aspects of moving to a multi-academy trust and also getting answers to any further questions which you might have about the changes which will take place.

This is an significant time in the history of our school and we hope that as a community we can embrace this venture with confidence. If you have questions, queries or areas which you would like the Governing Body to explore, please take the time to contact our Chair of Governors in the following ways:

In writing - please leave at the school office

Via email: governorowen@arlecdon.cumbria.sch.uk

Thank you for your continued support

Consultation on a proposal to join West Lakes Multi‐Academy Trust and convert to academy status

The Governing Body of Arlecdon Primary school has been considering carefully future plans in a fast-changing and increasingly challenging educational landscape. Our priority is to enable the schools to continue to provide an excellent education for our children, whilst protecting our school’s role at the heart of our community, and retaining our school’s unique qualities and strengths.

Building upon our current partnership with Thornhill Primary School, the Governing Body has been exploring a range of options to best secure the provision of primary education in our local communities. 

As part of this process, we have considered a number of options including remaining as we are, joining other local primaries in a soft federation, joining a local primary Multi Academy Trust (MAT), joining a local secondary MAT and joining a national MAT.  We have engaged with a range of educational providers and academy experts with the view to securing the best possible outcome for our school.  We have looked at the benefits and risks associated with each option, and weighed which option most closely meets our values and aspirations for our children and wider school community. As a result of this analysis, the Governing Body unanimously agrees that joining the West Lakes Multi Academy Trust offers the very best strategic partnership available. This option would, by default, mean that our school would convert to academy status.

This West Lakes MAT is locally centred with a clear and consistent remit of improving outcomes for local pupils. It is supported by local industry and has a proven record of providing great outcomes both educationally and in terms of enrichment.

Why join the Multi-Academy Trust?

We believe that students, staff and our community will benefit from the greater opportunities that formal partnership through the Trust will bring. These include;

• Securing the future of our school for our children in view of national educational policy and ever increasing budgetary constraints.
• Protecting our individual ethos and values.
• Increased opportunities for pupils in terms of outcomes, educational resourcing and enrichment; providing a more effective educational pathway for pupils from nursery through to Year 13.
• Financial stability and cost efficiencies made through sharing resources and joint commissioning of services.
• Increased opportunities for staff professional development and career progression.
• Wider school support network, and increased access to facilities and resources.
• Opportunities to be part of the development of education locally and to enlist the skills and talents of our staff and governors to their full potential.

What does it mean for parents and children?

• Parents should not be concerned that there will be drastic changes to the school environment or atmosphere. This will not be the case.
• There are no plans to change the identity of the school e.g our uniform will remain the same, timings of the school day will not change, holidays will follow the current pattern
• Parents should see increased opportunities and improved resourcing in school, which will benefit their children
• There will be no expectation for families to send their children to West Lakes Academy in Year 7, but if they choose to do so, they will have a greater likelihood of a successful admission.

What happens next?

• We are now beginning the process to consult with our pupils, parents, carers, staff and the community. The Governing Body will consider a report on the academy consultation before making a final decision on whether to proceed with the proposal.
• If the Governing Body agrees to proceed, the plan is to convert and join the West Lakes Multi Academy Trust on 1^st September 2019, subject to appropriate due diligence.
• We will be hosting consultation meetings as follows:

Thursday 1^st November @ 6pm

Venue- Arlecdon Primary School Hall

You may also contact the chair of Governors (Owen David) using the following email address:

governorowen@arlecdon.cumbria.sch.uk

We welcome your feedback on the proposals. We will update our news pages with Questions and the Governing Bodies Answers as we receive these