News Lessons in academy conversion E
ducation Today recently spoke to Jonny Mitchell, Headmaster at Thornhill, currently featuring in Channel 4’s series Educating Yorkshire, and Lucy Hughes, Associate at law firm Walker Morris LLP, about their experiences and advice for those converting to academy status.
City Broker Sales Director Nurse Barrister
Jonny Mitchell Headteacher, Thornhill Academy
Lucy Hughes Associate, Walker Morris LLP Converting to academy status was a major landmark in Thornhill’s
history. A smooth conversion was key to the confidence and morale of staff, governors, parents, and importantly, pupils.
We found that, like any project, critical to success was being clear at the outset about why we were doing it. If you can’t articulate the aims and goals at the start, it will be difficult to justify later in the process and you are less likely to achieve the results you require.
Make contact with the Department for Education (DfE) and ensure the caseworker is aware of your objectives. Decide on your preferred date for conversion and discuss this with the DfE.
Liaise with the Council (and any other key stakeholders including the foundation trust or diocese) at an early stage. Some Councils have more limited experience or resources to deal with conversions so you need allow plenty of time.
Throughout the process we ensured full consultation with all the stakeholders and maintained regular communication with everyone. Many schools use their website and regular newsletters to keep stakeholders involved. Think about the best way for you to actively update all interested parties and make sure you provide regular communication. Select professional advisers carefully. Don’t underestimate the importance of having access to friendly, knowledgeable professionals who can guide you through the process. You want to make sure that you feel comfortable with the people you’re dealing with and that you trust their advice. You need to know what contracts the school benefits from currently (such as maintenance contracts) and the assets it uses to ensure these are properly transferred to you. If you are a PFI school (like Thornhill), the conversion is more complicated as additional documents are needed to ensure obligations and liabilities under the PFI project are adequately dealt with and all parties are properly protected.
As the school staff will usually transfer to the Academy on conversion, the school must engage adequate and appropriate HR support to deal with consultations and the TUPE process. The Academy may want additional HR support following conversion, including revamping some of the current school policies (e.g. social media). Share good practice with other schools. Your support and guidance might be a telephone conversation or you may decide to sponsor other schools.
Ensure you have the wider support from your professional adviser team post conversion. If you don’t already have a business manager – think strongly about appointing one! Don’t underestimate the amount of management time needed to do everything from procurement of contractors to accounting, reporting to the EFA and Companies House, and demonstrating compliance with charity law and other regulatory regimes.
u
lucy.hughes@
walkermorris.co.uk u
www.walkermorris.co.uk u
www.thornhillcommunityacademy.co.uk
October 2013 Careers Advisory Helping you to help them raise their aspirations
Capita Education Resourcing understand that schools must follow the Ofsted framework and have a legal responsibility for securing access to independent and impartial careers guidance for academic years 8 to 13.
We know that different schools have different needs and requirements. Our careers advisory service offers a partnership approach that is a tailored program specific to your school or students’ needs by listening to you, we work by identifying the appropriate tools and activities required to develop and deliver a program that is designed to build success. Our guidance will deliver results – increase student engagement, raise aspirations and improve destination measures.
If you would like an informal chat about how our careers advisory service can support your students contact us today on:
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www.education-today.co.uk 5
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