Future of Culverhay School
Parent/ Guardian Questions and Answers - UPDATED: 6.10.11
The Council intends to reverse the proposed closure of Culverhay School and will support the school to become an Academy as a step towards becoming co-educational for local boys and girls from September 2013. The first step towards this goal was taken by the Council Cabinet on 14th July 2011.
The following questions and answers are intended to provide information about the next steps for both current and prospective parents/ guardians.
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - 6.10.11:
There have been newspaper reports that the Council hasn’t followed the correct process to turn Culverhay into an academy. Are these true?
No. We’ve obtained independent expert legal opinion to consider the decision-making the process the Council has followed. The conclusion was clear. Our processes have been sound. To provide reassurance to the Government that due process has been followed, this advice has been passed onto the Department for Education.
What will happen to the Free School application (also known as Sirius Wood)?
Our understanding of Government legislation is that an Academy solution would come ahead of a Free School solution on the basis that schools with standards below the national floor targets are normally expected to become academies. Past practice has been to close under-performing schools and open a new sponsored academy on the existing school site. New legislation allows such a school to convert to an academy if it is partnered with a school that is performing well so they can be supported to improve.
Free Schools have a slightly different role to play. They are intended to provide additional or alternative places to those that already exist or to provide extra capacity. However, the final decision lies with the Government.
A Director and the Company Secretary of Fleet Comprehensive Ltd met with the Council’s Strategic Director for Children’s Services on 21 June 2011. The Council’s understanding was explained and it was made clear that keeping the school open on the Culverhay site would mean that the Free School application could not proceed. The two Directors acknowledged that this would be the case.
Will the new school become a vocational one?
There is no intention to make the school a vocational centre. The proposed Academy will be required by its contract with the Secretary of State to deliver a balanced and broadly based curriculum and to provide an education for pupils of all abilities. In addition to this it must provide a specialism in a particular area which must also be agreed and will be stated in the contract. The academy has to provide an education for pupils who live in the area where it is situated. This approach is entirely consistent with the aspirations of the local community.
Why has the Secretary of State taken so long to make up his mind about the future of the school?
The Government make decisions like this very carefully. The situation in respect of Culverhay is more complicated than usual because the Secretary of State is considering two applications for an Academy School and a Free School. For example, most recently the DfE have requested further information from the Council about the local support for an Academy which we provided. It also wants to give the Cabinet time to consider any local objections. Once the Cabinet has met on October 12th 2011 and made a decision about the closure withdrawal notice, we anticipate the Secretary of State deciding which school model Culverhay should be reasonably quickly.
What is Cabot Learning Federation?
Initial talks have been held with potential sponsor Academy chains to seek out a strong partner to work with the Governing Body and Head Teacher if the DfE supported the move to sponsored academy. The Governing Body, the Council and the DfE are all agreed that the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF), which is already working with the School to improve standards, is the right partner for Culverhay. The CLF has a successful local network of academies in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire where standards are rising fast. Culverhay will be paired with one of the Federation’s schools which has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED.
If the council decides to keep a school on the Culverhay site and it becomes an academy, surely other schools in B&NES will be worse off financially?
If Culverhay was to be closed, other schools would only benefit by £24 per pupil.
I hear that there would be redundancies at Culverhay. How can it provide a balance curriculum without many staff?
By becoming a member of the Cabot Learning Federation, Culverhay will gain access to people and opportunities that will enable it to achieve economies of scale. This means that it will be able to provide a broad and balanced curriculum despite having low numbers of pupils and a small budget.
When can girls go to the new academy?
The Cabot Trust is very keen to admit girls from September 2012. It is hoped that once it is confirmed that Culverhay can become an academy and join the Federation, the process for admitting girls will be easier and quicker than for a local authority so that this might be possible.
I understand that the council has to give the school site and buildings to the Academy Trust. What will happen to the school site if the academy is not successful and has to close?
The lease will specify that the site has to return to the Local Authority if the Secretary of State or the Academy Trust withdraws for the contract.
I’ve heard that academies don’t have to employ qualified teachers. Surely this is not the way to produce well-educated young people?
Academies have a greater scope to use different types of contracts than maintained schools. However, they are obliged to use qualified teachers for specific purposes such as planning and preparing lessons and courses for pupils, lesson delivery and assessment.
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PREVIOUS QUESTIONS FROM SUMMER 2011
1. What does this decision mean for current pupils?
There are no immediate implications for most pupils. However, It is possible that there will be changes that reflect the new hopes and aspirations for the new academy and its relationship with other schools. For example, those involved might want to change the school uniform, the school day, the way lessons are organised, the meals service etc. Some academies have chosen to change their names in order to symbolise a new beginning. The future will be planned with the best interests of the children in mind. There will be lots of opportunities for consultation with parents and staff about this.
2. If Culverhay is to stay open, can I transfer my child there even though they go to another school?
If your child is a boy, you can complete an in-year admission application for your son to move to Culverhay and as there would be a vacancy there would be no difficulty in doing this. If your child is a girl, she will not be able to go to Culverhay because it is not co-educational yet and only younger girls will be able to go there when the change is complete.
3. When will we find out when the school will become an academy?
The process starts with a formal request being made by the Governing Body of Culverhay School to the Secretary of State for Education to become an academy.This is followed by a number of checks and steps. The process can be completed within a year so Culverhay could be an academy from September 2012.
4. If Culverhay becomes an academy, will my child be able to stay there?
Yes.
5. If Culverhay becomes an academy, I am not sure that I will want my son to go there. Will the council give him another school?
You would have the right to apply for a place in another school in the usual way. Both Beechen Cliff and Oldfield are already academies. If you want your son to go to a boy’s school, the only other one in Bath is Beechen Cliff to which you can apply.
6. What’s good about Culverhay becoming an academy?
The Governing Body of Culverhay School would like it to become an academy because they believe it is the best way to ensure that there will be a local school in the area because as an academy it will attract the support and extra money it needs to be successful. The school would be paired with an outstanding school which will bring expertise to raise standards and enable Culverhay to share in services, training and support in a more cost-effective way.
7. How quickly can Culverhay go to co-ed?
Culverhay will remain a boys’ school initially. It is necessary to follow a legal process to change Culverhay from a boys’ school to a mixed school. It will be quickest to become an academy first then consult about admitting girls. When agreed, the school buildings have to be adapted so they can have girls’ toilets and changing rooms etc. It is anticipated that the school will become a co-ed academy in September 2013, but everything is being done to try and achieve this for September 2012.
8. Would a final council decision to keep Culverhay open affect Oldfield becoming co-ed?
No. The legal processes for Oldfield to become a co-educational academy were completed a while ago. Oldfield will admit boys from September 2012.
9. What about the Free School application?
The Free School application is submitted and with the minister for consideration.
10. How can I find out further information about how these changes will affect my child?
The Council is very happy to answer any queries of concerns you may have. If you have a specific query regarding admissions please contact the Admissions & Transport Unit on 01225 394312.
Any other queries should be addressed to the Schools Capital and Organisation Team by calling 01225 395351 or email bath_seccons10@bathnes.gov.uk