Your Questions Answered

Why can’t the proposed Academies open earlier than September 2009?

A The development of a brand new Academy is a complex process requiring significant feasibility work. The joint sponsors, West Sussex County Council and Woodard Schools, are working with support from the Department for Children, Schools and Families and Mouchel, a national project management company, to ensure that the feasibility projects are conducted thoroughly. If the projects are successful, then it will be possible for us to move into an implementation phase during the 2008/09 school year with a view to the Academies opening in September 2009 with new accommodation following, all being well, by the Autumn 2011.

Will the Academies build on Age of Transfer changes in Adur?

It is our intention through working closely with the proposed Academies and feeder primary schools to ensure that the reorganised schools secure the smoothest possible transition for Year 6 pupils and that such collaborative arrangements will continue upon the opening of the proposed Academies in September 2009.

Will the names of the predecessor schools change?

The name of the school will change when it becomes an Academy and during the consultation process the name will be discussed so that the options considered will reflect the thoughts and aspirations of students, staff and the local community.

What is in it for Woodard?

Woodard Schools is a charity not a commercial organisation. It was established more than 150 years ago in response to the need to provide education for the then ‘middle classes’ – to people, who the founder, Nathaniel Woodard believed were being over looked by the then education system.

Today, Woodard Schools carries on the work of its founder but with very much a 21st century view and vision of education. It believes that everyone has the right to a good education but in addition to that all children should be treated an individuals, given opportunities in which they can flourish and have the confidence and the tools needed to cope with the demands and responsibilities of adult life.

What’s in it for Woodard? – the continuation of the work of its founder, providing a first class education and enabling children in West Sussex to succeed.

Will the present provision for gifted and talented pupils be continued?

There will be continued high quality support for exceptionally able students and those who face additional learning needs. The exact nature of the programmes of support to be made available within future Academies will be a matter for the respective leadership teams and the local governing bodies to determine in discussion with staff, parents and students.

What is the make up of the Governing Body and how will it be selected?

The size of the Governing Body of each academy is dictated by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Both sponsors – West Sussex County Council and Woodard Schools will appoint Governors from the staff, parents, businesses and local community.

The composition of the Governing body will largely be decided by the feedback from the consultation process so that the appointed Governors reflect the needs and aspirations of the staff, parents and the wider community.

Will the uniform change?

Yes, as a new Academy there will be a new school badge and a new school uniform illustrating a new start.

As part of the consultation process students, parents and staff will be asked for their thoughts and recommendations for a new uniform.

Woodard Schools also places great importance on the uniform while being mindful of the cost for some parents. Throughout all Woodard Schools the students wear their uniform so that they look smart and tidy at all times. Students are proud of their uniform and the school they belong to. As students are prepared for the demands of adult life they are taught the importance of ‘creating a first impression’ and how they will be expected to dress and behave in the working world.

What will the class sizes be and what would be the student/teacher ratios?

The additional funding flexibility available to Academies may enable new forms of organisation to be provided in order to best meet student needs and the revised curriculum offer available from September 2009, and thereafter once the new accommodation is completed. To some extent, staffing structures and timetabling arrangements will depend upon the extent to which parental preferences ensure that more local young people attend their local Academy. Certainly, the additional curriculum and funding flexibilities open to the Academies would enable new forms of organisation to be introduced in order to maximise the range of opportunities available to students and to secure the highest possible levels of academic achievement.

How will the Academy keep discipline/how will you improve the behaviour of students?

Respect. It’s a key word but one that Woodard Schools places at the heart of its ethos – respecting people for their differences, respecting each individual , respect for teachers, authority, school buildings, their work and achievements.

Throughout all Woodard Schools – be they independent, state, grammar, prep, boarding or day schools, all students are taught the need to have respect and also to have pride in their work.

Throughout the consultation process and working closely with the Academy head, Woodard Schools and West Sussex County Council will be looking at the issues of behaviour and discipline to ensure that all students, parents and staff are aware of the needs and regulations from the first day of term.

How are you promoting inclusivity?

The proposed Academies would be inclusive communities welcoming all local young people who wish to attend them. Young people of all faiths and none will be welcome and encouraged to participate fully in the life of their Academy. The sponsors, Woodard Schools and West Sussex County Council, have agreed from the very beginning that the South Coast Academies should follow the same admission arrangements as apply to all other non church aided schools in West Sussex. Similarly, whilst working in accordance with the national Codes of Practice for School Admissions and Special Educational Needs, the Academies will pay particular attention to the needs and rights of children in care to the County Council and those who have assessed special educational needs requiring support through ‘School Action’, ‘School Action Plus’ or through a Statement of Special Educational Needs.

Is the Academy option the only way of receiving capital funding from the Government in order to provide modern facilities for local young people and staff?

Yes. The Department for Children, Schools and Families has recently confirmed that West Sussex secondary schools will not qualify for Building Schools for the Future funding until a much later ‘wave’ of the present national programme. This means that it could be another decade or so before current primary pupils, and even the next generation that will follow them, would have access to modern state of the art facilities. The County Council has made representations about the impact of local maintained schools having to wait for such a long period, especially when they are working within increasingly unsuitable accommodation. Nonetheless, the fact is that Academies route is the only one available to us if we are to secure any early BSF funding to resolve major defects and barriers to learning in our least satisfactory secondary school buildings.

Will the sponsors provide written assurances about pay, terms and conditions for present school staff?

Detailed work around transfer of undertakings (TUPE) will come at a later stage if the feasibility projects are completed successfully. However, in response to staff concerns, on 17th March 2008 Robert Back, Director for Children and Young People’s Services, issued the following statement to all school staff:

“All employees directly employed at the predecessor schools on 31st August 2009 with permanent contracts or fixed term/temporary contracts which do not end either before or on that date have the right to transfer to the Academy. This is on their existing terms and conditions of employment with continuity of service preserved. Woodard Schools and West Sussex County Council will continue current pay and conditions of service for staff in the new Academy”.

How will the new buildings be provided?

Subject to the outcomes of the initial design work undertaken within the feasibility projects, there will be a high percentage of new accommodation within the new Academy buildings. It would not be a complete re-build of predecessor school accommodation, bearing in mind that there is some very good and relatively recently built accommodation upon current sites. The exact nature of future buildings has yet to be determined but it will be based upon detailed specification and working out of the agreed education vision for the proposed Academies.

The County Council will be responsible for buildings procurement within an agreed design developed within the national framework overseen by Partnerships for Schools. Further work is still to be undertaken in relation to the development of a detailed design brief which will enable the educational vision to be delivered effectively within the overall capital funding available for each Academy. Further work will also be undertaken in relation to the future of Youth Service Provision, special educational needs facilities, any possible impact upon nearby primary or special schools and the scope for the provision of multi-agency and extended services provision.

What plans do you have for the current school day and school year?

The Woodard West Sussex Academies programme is currently in feasibility so that the details of the school day and school year have yet to be agreed.

However, while in the consultation stage feedback regarding this is welcome and can be fed back to Sandie Reed, Academy Project Manager on Sandie.Reed@mouchel.com

Woodard Schools does place great importance on meeting the needs of the school curriculum as well as providing extra opportunities. This means that at Woodard Schools across the UK there’s a robust programme of sport, music, drama, after school clubs and wrap around child care tailored to working parents.

Will staff’s religious beliefs be a factor in their continuing employment with new employees?

Not at all. Just as with students, Woodard Schools welcomes teachers from all religious backgrounds or of no religious faith at all. It helps add to the rich culture and diversity of the school community and fosters tolerance and understanding in others. Teachers are employed for their abilities and educational expertise rather than on their religious convictions.

What role will teachers play in promoting the school’s Christian ethos?

As above, teachers will not be expected to be Christian and as already mentioned, Woodard Schools welcomes people from all faiths or no faith at all to help add to the diversity and rich culture of the school community.

An Academy Chaplain will be appointed but it is not his/her role to promote/indoctrinate they are there to support and provide pastoral care as and where appropriate. The teachers will be expected to promote respect, tolerance for others and professionalism.

Will the proposed Boundstone Academy retain the Performing Arts specialism?

Yes. The sponsors acknowledge the particular strengths and benefits of the present Performing Arts specialism and would wish the proposed Academy to build upon the excellence of current provision on behalf of local young people and the wider community.

Who will be responsible for determining and delivering the agreed curriculum of the Academy?

The responsibility will be with the Governors and the Principal of the Academy.

How much flexibility will there be for the Academy to modify the curriculum in order to meet the needs of all young people?

The proposed Academy will follow the national curriculum in regards to the provision of maths and English but for other subjects will have the freedom and flexibility to determine the curriculum as appropriate for the needs of the students.

This approach ensures that the needs of each student are looked at and met, that each young person is treated as an individual and encouraged to flourish.

Will the Academy retain its current subject specialism?

As outlined in the expression of interest document, current subject specialisms will be recognised, maintained and built upon.

Will some of the extra funding available be used to increase the numbers of support staff such as learning support assistants?

The proposed Academies will be funded on the basis of the same formula applicable to other maintained secondary schools in West Sussex and, other than some transitional funding, will not receive extra funding at a level above other schools within the local authority.

However, the sponsors will be setting up a £2 million fund to enable students to take part in extra curricular activities that will allow them to flourish as individuals, build their confidence and provide a memorable school experience.

Will the staffing structure remain the same?

No, the staffing structure will be modified so that it can relate to the new curriculum provision, in line with the objectives of the initial expression of interest document.

How will the Academy and the local authority minimise possible disruption caused for students and staff by the major building work required on each site?

In line with the Government’s ‘Building Schools for the Future Programme’ there is considerable investment and development of the Academy sites. There is much experience in managing the process of building work across the County in order to minimise disruption to pupils and staff. Woodard Schools also has a proven track record in maintaining a safe environment for students while work is ongoing and ensuring that there is no disruption to the main priority of delivering a first class standard of education.

To what extent will the new Academy be housed in new, state of the art accommodation?

Evaluation of the current building stock is ongoing and part of the feasibility process. Partnerships for Schools will use this evaluation to apply the national funding allocation model in order to provide new, purpose-built accommodation other than any existing modern buildings which will continue to be fit for purpose within the overall new-build. This evaluation allows the sponsors to ascertain the current resources, needs and plan the design and management of the new building programme accordingly.