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Parent Information for Academisation​


Merridale Primary’s Application to Convert

 

This information is to inform you of an important development regarding the future of our school. We are in the process of applying to the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) for approval to convert Merridale Primary School to an academy, as part of a newly formed multi-academy trust (MAT) in Wolverhampton, which will be known as The Wulfruna Partnership.

 

This new trust will consist of four founding schools: Bantock Primary School, Dovecotes Primary School, Fallings Park Primary School and Merridale Primary School.

 

These schools already have a history of working together closely, sharing expertise and collaborating to support one another. By forming this new MAT, we will formalise and strengthen these relationships, allowing us to work together even more effectively for the benefit of our students and wider school communities.

 

We are committed to our communities. A high-quality education is not only pivotal to the future success of the children we serve but a fundamental right for ALL children. To do this, we want to maximize support, share excellent practice, draw upon the collective knowledge and foster growth through a strong collective identity of schools. Geographical proximity to partner schools is important in serving similar communities and also having the strength in difference to diversify.

 

The Governing Board is keen to hear your thoughts on this proposal, as we believe it is crucial that everyone has the opportunity to ask questions, understand the proposal in more detail, and contribute to this important decision. We are committed to maintaining strong links with our parents, carers, and the wider community and to ensuring that this process is as transparent as possible.

 

We believe that joining The Wulfruna Partnership is a positive step forward for our school, and we are confident that it will bring many benefits, including:

 

  • Stronger collaborative working between experienced schools, allowing staff to share their expertise and continue raising standards for all our children.

  • Greater financial efficiency, securing better value for money on products and services through economies of scale, meaning we can invest more in our classrooms and curriculum.

  • Access to additional funding opportunities, as the MAT will be eligible for grants and funding that are not available to individual schools under local authority control.

  • A broader network of collaboration with schools across other trusts, as well as opportunities for further schools to join and enhance the capacity to provide an even wider curriculum and student support.

 

Rest assured that even with this conversion, many aspects of your child’s experience at school will remain the same. There will be no changes to leadership, teaching staff, or support staff. Their terms and conditions are protected as part of the process, and the school will continue to have a governing board. All children currently on roll will remain, and the school’s admissions policy, term dates, and the structure of the school day will not change.

 

We want to ensure that you are fully informed and involved in this process. Therefore, the consultation for conversion to academy status will be conducted virtually. Please read the Frequently Asked Questions (below), and if you have any further questions please use the form below. We will update the website regularly with answers to these questions during the consultation process. You can also use this form to let us know whether you support the proposal.

 

The formal consultation period closed on Friday 22nd November 2024.

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Following the consultation period, the Governing Board will now review all feedback and make a final decision on whether to proceed with the academy conversion. We look forward to receiving your input and will inform you of the final decision once it is made.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement in this exciting next chapter for our school.

Mr M Rizwan, Chair of Governing Board

 

Frequently Asked Questions From Stakeholders About Academy Conversions

  • What is an academy?
    An academy is an all-ability school that is directly funded by central government and independent of direct control by local government. Academies are inspected by Ofsted under the same framework as maintained schools. Academies are self-governing.
  • What is a Multi-Academy Trust?
    A Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) is a charitable company limited by guarantee which is formed to oversee a group of schools who are academies. The MAT is the employer of staff and holds the land and buildings of each academy in Trust.
  • How does governance work?
    There will be a Board of Trustees who are ultimately responsible for the work of the Trust and the academies. However, they devolve much of the responsibility to the individual academies and their respective local governing bodies. Each academy has its own governing body who work with the academy Principal to check that the academy is making good progress and add additional challenge and scrutiny to the work of the school. Each governing body has parent/carer and staff representatives. The academy Principal is always a governor for the time they are employed in that role. The governing body will set the vision for the academy in line with the overall commitment of the multi academy trust. The governing body also draft the academy spending plan and improvement plan for approval by The Trust Board. The governing body has delegated powers from the Trust Board including the management of finance and property and the appointment of staff.
  • What is the main motivation for converting to academy status?
    We will remain in charge of our own destiny as the government seeks to force/encourage all schools to become academies by the end of this parliament. The Local Authority (LA) capacity is disappearing. Pooling the resources of a number of schools means we can re-create some of the services once received from the LA To shape the provision to meet the future needs of our children, families and communities based on a local and collaborative proposal of working together and building on existing good practice To develop the expertise of all staff to further improve effectiveness and outcomes for children To generate financial efficiencies to invest back into the classroom for the benefit of the children What parents and carers need to know Each school will not change its character and will continue to look, feel and be the same as it is now The Headteacher and Governing Body will continue to run the school on a daily basis as they do now, and parents/carers will continue to be represented on the Governing Body. The name of the school will not change, and the school will not change its admissions policy Children with special needs will continue to receive additional support in the way they do now Our local schools will continue to work very closely together for each other as well as your children, and will be provided with more support to help them become even better The multi-academy trust arrangements will share some central services across the schools which will help them be more efficient and make sure that funding is focused on teaching, learning and support for children The multi-academy trust will work very closely and co-operatively with local partners, including other schools, community groups and organisations, and the local authority.
  • Is an academy like a business?
    No. A business makes profit for its shareholders. An academy is a charitable trust which cannot make profit.
  • Who makes the decision to become an academy?
    The governing body.
  • Are academies bound by the same rules and regulations as other schools?
    Academies are required to follow the law and guidance on admissions, special educational needs and exclusions.
  • Will the academy follow the National Curriculum?
    Yes, but it would have more freedom to try different things in the curriculum and make sure that what is taught is relevant to our pupils and their specific needs. It must be broad and balanced.
  • Does becoming an academy change the relationship with local schools and the community?
    No. Academy funding agreements state that they must ensure that we will be at the heart of its community, collaborating and sharing facilities and expertise with other local schools and the wider community.
  • As an academy, will it still work with the local authority (LA)?
    Academies are independent of the local authority. However, we wish to continue working with the LA, other local schools and local partners.
  • What about funding?
    The Department for Education meets the running costs for an academy. Academy funding is calculated on a like-for-like basis with local authority schools. Therefore the academy will have a similar budget to that of its predecessor maintained school. With greater freedom to procure services from other providers and to realise cost efficiencies across the network, the academy will be able to make more efficient use of resources to support school improvement. Like other schools, an academy cannot run at a loss or agree a deficit budget, i.e. it has to break-even.
  • How will the school be accountable financially?
    An academy is governed by the rules and regulations for charitable trusts and company law, e.g. we will be required to produce and file accounts and trustees cannot be paid. There will be robust systems with an audit conducted by an external independent auditor.
  • What functions would remain the statutory responsibility of the LA?
    Home to school transport Education psychology, SEND statementing and assessment Monitoring of SEND provision Prosecution of parents for non-attendance Assigned SEN resources for pupils/students with rare conditions needing individually tailored provision Provision of specialist facilities for a student who is no longer registered at a school
  • Who will be responsible, and pay for assessments of pupils/students with additional needs?
    The LA retains the same statutory responsibility for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in academies as they would for a maintained school. We would continue to work closely with the LA to ensure that our SEND pupils are well provided for and to ensure that the LA meets their statutory commitments with regard to pupils.
  • Does it cost money to become an academy?
    Yes. There are legal, financial and project costs associated with becoming an academy. The government gives each converting academy £25,000 to contribute towards these costs.
  • Who will own the school building and land?
    The governing body will be required to grant a 125 year peppercorn lease to the academy trust.
  • Will the staff stay the same?
    When a school converts to a new academy, all permanent staff are entitled to transfer to it under the same employment terms and conditions. The process of conversion assumes ‘as is’ for staff and that they continue to teach the same classes as previously.
  • Will you consult with staff, community and parents?
    Yes, we will consult with all key stakeholder groups during the transition phase. This will include the sharing of our plans for the new academy trust and an opportunity to gather feedback and suggestions, as well as addressing any questions or concerns. A clear consultation will take place.
  • Will the school remain non-selective?
    Yes - academies are non-selective schools. Academies are required to follow the law and guidance on admissions, SEND and exclusions as if they were maintained schools. It is the aim of the Trust to ensure that our academies provide high quality, inclusive education for all local children.
  • Are academies inspected by Ofsted?
    Ofsted inspects academies in the same way as maintained schools.
  • Will the school need to change its name?
    We will not change our name unless there is a compelling reason during consultation to do so.
  • Can the academy work with the council and other schools?
    Yes. Where possible and appropriate, the academy will buy back services from the local authority. The academy can work with any schools it wishes if this makes a difference to the education of the children.
  • Will there be a new uniform?
    No. School clothing at Merridale will remain the same as it is now.
  • What date would the Academies open?
    The proposal subject to approval from the Department for Education is for Merridale Primary to open as an Academy on the 1st September 2025.
  • How can I find out more about academies?
    Visit the website for the department of education on www.gov.uk and search for Academies on the home page.

Academisation

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