Academy Discussion Groups

Questions from staff

Will there be buy in to West Sussex pension for non-teaching staff (local government officer pension equivalent)?

Woodard will make an admitted body status application to become a member of the West Sussex Scheme (which means that the pension scheme remains the same as now). Granting of the application is normally a formality,

What is Woodard retirement age/associated rules?

Woodard Schools is offering all staff at the proposed Academy in Boundstone the same terms and conditions as currently offered by West Sussex County Council, therefore the retirement age will not alter.

Will we be able to work in partnership with W Sussex schools?

Yes, the new Academy will continue to build on the links it already has with existing West Sussex Schools – and of course, it will also have links with the 40 schools within Woodard too.

How do we teach respect of the new buildings?

The DCSF has noted that when pupils are presented with light, functional buildings they do treat them with far more respect than they did previously. We hope that this will be the case and that respect for the new buildings will be part of a growing culture of respect for each other, for their work and for the staff.

How will students be assigned a chapter to ensure the chapters remain neutral and non-specialist?

Such detail has not been decided yet but there will be no selection criteria so that we ensure a broad and balanced mix of students.

In addition, it would also be sensible to have members of the same family in each chapter so that strong relationships can be built.

This detail will be worked out by the Principal Designate.

What challenges can we give our underachievers? Can we broaden their world?

We are very keen to develop individual learning plans, where we focus on ‘stage not age’ so that we can give each student the confidence to develop and learn.

It is a Woodard belief that every child has something they can excel in and offer and that we need to find this and nurture it. We hope that the inter relationships between the Academy, Woodard Schools and schools within West Sussex can help broaden horizons and opportunities too along with the links we’re keen to continue to develop with the local community and businesses.

A flexible curriculum will also help in this respect.

Will there be any plans to have a head of each chapter as a focal point for both parents and students to deal with the pastoral rather than the curriculum aspect?

Yes.

Will specialist subjects have to share rooms and hence move depending on T/T? If so how will this work for the continuity of pupils?

The new technology will make many rooms multi usage and of course all subjects are specialist in their own right.

The operational detail of the new academy will be undertaken by the Principal Designate and will be agreed during the Academy’s ‘implementation’ stage.

What provisions are there for SEN & AEN pupils? How much emphasis is there on support for them?

The Woodard West Sussex vision is that every child matters and therefore all needs must be catered for. The detail of this will be agreed with the Principal Designate during the implementation stage.

If chapters are decided to be faculty based how will the provision of a range of talents and skills of a chapter team be ensured?

The education brief does not currently assume that the chapters are to be faculty based. However, the education brief is a live document and will remain so until the Principal Designate is in place.

When are we going to see the full education brief?

The education brief is a ‘live’ document that is currently evolving. The Principal Designate is the person who will take the brief – the vision of the sponsors and with the Boundstone team make it reality.

If funding is granted by the DCSF for the Academy at Boundstone we will move from ‘feasibility’ into ‘implementation’ and it is during this stage and once the Principal Designate is on board that the education brief will be finalised and shared. In the meantime we will continue to gather information that can be fed back into the brief – therefore your comments and observations are welcomed.

Will unions be properly recognised and consulted?

Yes.

What influence will the staff have on the planning of the new classrooms/corridors etc?

Your head currently sits on the Academy design committee and is there representing the views of the staff. In addition, we have heard from your students that they would like light, airy classroom, wide corridors,, etc and we’re taking this into account too.

Is King’s Manor going to become an academy school within this group? At same time as us. If not, why not. Will our connection with them be closer/shared?

Since this question was asked an announcement has been made that King’s Manor will become an Academy, working on the same time scales as Boundstone but its sponsor will be the United Learning Trust.

As the proposed Academy for Boundstone will have West Sussex County Council as a sponsor it will still retain links within the county and this will, of course, include King’s Manor too.

Is July 2008 the key date for the staff to know whether the Academy will go ahead or not?

We believe that the decision regarding funding will be made by the minister, Lord Adonis in summer 2008. The exact timing depends on the minister.

Who will make the decisions on the final structure of the pastoral/academic systems?

Final decisions will be made by the sponsors – Woodard Schools and West Sussex County Council along with the Principal Designate.

Will departments have input into the spaces they will teach in?

A new build is an exciting opportunity and it’s important that we get the design right from the start. Therefore input is important and Richard Evea currently sits on the design planning committee to help start to feed back ideas and importantly practical suggestions to the architects and planners.

Will we have a new pastoral and faculty structure?

Yes, the details for this will be developed in line with the education brief and will be part of the remit for the Principal Designate.

Will we have further opportunities in developing links with outside agencies?

Yes, all existing links will be built on and as set out in the expression of interest document (which you can view on line under the West Sussex freedom of information section) the new Academy will also develop relationships with businesses, the wider community and relevant external organisations.

Will they appoint a head designate well in advance of the Academy opening?

The advert for the new Principal Designate has been published and can be viewed on line at www.woodardwestsussexacademies.co.uk There has been considerable interest in the post and it is hoped that the new person will be in place on the 1st January 2009.

When will the new Head be appointed and will they take up the appointment before the closure of Boundstone and the opening of any new Academy?

As detailed above it is hoped that the Principal Designate will be in place by the 1st January 2009 so that he/she has two full terms prior to the Academy opening.

Will Woodard use Connexions Careers, Work-related Learning, Educational Psychologists etc we already have a working relationship with? Will they have ones Agencies bring in?

Woodard Schools will work alongside all the current organisations Boundstone currently has a relationship with and only, where/if appropriate will introduce new partnerships.

Will staff pay and conditions be secure?

Yes.

Will the counselling service remain in place?

We would like to understand more about the counselling service prior to answering this question.

Will children’s fears of, and feelings of failure in the ‘personalised’ system (discussed on Monday) be specifically addressed as a topic and continually be assessed and monitored frequently?

Yes and it is hoped that the ‘stage not age’ and individual learning plans coupled with the chapters and tutors will help give confidence and encouragement to each individual for them to succeed.