Parent Consultation Meeting 26 th February 2020
Proposal for Sedlescombe CEP School to join the Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust DCAT
October 2016 All governing bodies were required by Central Government to discuss the way forward for their schools. This was in response to the following concerns: • level of cuts in the funding by Central Government to ESCC • Reduction of school budgets impacting on education provision - staffing, resources, extra curricular activities • Higher costs in maintaining facilities e.g. buildings, grounds • Reduction of extended services provided by ESCC e.g. School Advisers, SEND provision, CPD for staff, IT support • The Christian distinctiveness of the school being lost • S chool’s rural location impacting on the school’s ability to network – best practise i.e. sharing of knowledge, skills, support, moderation of outcomes of pupils, staff CPD Governors decided to look at advantages of joining an Academy Trust i.e. DCAT.
Over the last 2 years the Governing Board have embarked on a series of detailed consultations including: • Informal conversation with DCAT • Head Teacher and governors talking to other schools that have gone through process of joining DCAT and its impact • Formal resolution passed by the governors to commence formal talks with DCAT on what they could offer the school and what Sedlescombe could offer DCAT. Due Diligence undertaken by both parties. • Sought permission from the Dioceses Education Board as Sedlescombe is a Church of England school on the proposal to join DCAT • Sought permission from the Department for Education to convert to join an academy trust • Talks with ESCC Only when the above was agreed could the school start to consult stakeholders i.e. staff and parents
Advantages of joining DCAT • DCAT is committed to school improvement and will challenge and support the school on its continual journey to raise standards and outcomes for all pupils • Being part of a wider ‘family’ of Christian schools • Opportunities to strengthen the school’s ethos and Christian distinctiveness • Opportunities to learn from other schools, sharing resources and facilities • Opportunities for staff and governors to share good practice, experience, skills and knowledge with other schools within the DCAT family. Peer to peer support for Headteachers. • Access to extended service of professionals e.g. SEND, School Improvement team, CPD • Long term financial sustainability – economy of scale, sharing of services and opportunities • DCAT values the importance of relationships within its school and the wider community
Summary Staff and governors at Sedlescombe Church of Engand Primary School are committed to providing excellent educational experiences and opportunities for all children regardless of gender, religious beliefs, disabilities or ethnicity and in partnership with DCAT and its family of schools, we feel we will be able to work together for the benefit of all children. It will allow the school to celebrate and share its successes and to learn from the support of DCAT’s School Improvement team on its continuous journey to raise standards and outcomes for all its pupils.
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