News

Academies plan for Hastings

Published 10 May 2013

Three Hastings primary schools have requested the University of Brighton's backing to gain academy status.

The proposals would see the three schools – Dudley Infant School, West St Leonards Primary and Elphinstone Primary – join the Hastings Academies Trust, with the University of Brighton as its lead sponsor.

The governing bodies of the three schools will be consulting with parents, staff and stakeholders to get their views on whether the schools should become academies. These results will then be submitted to the Secretary of State who will decide if the academies programme gets the green light.

The Hastings Academies Trust already oversees The Hastings and The St Leonards Academies in the town and the university has had a campus in Hastings since 2003.

Professor Julian Crampton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton, said: "It has to be stressed that these three schools are already successful. However, we believe that becoming academies will make a real difference to the schools and their pupils. The rationale for working with the three schools is to provide opportunities for sharing good practice and working together to make further improvements to children's educational achievements.

"We will be building on the schools' existing strong educational foundation. They will offer new opportunities for learning and improve further the approach to leadership, teaching and learning. The schools will be joining a successful Trust which already manages two academies.

"We are at the very start of this process but we are working closely with the schools and their governing bodies. We believe the sponsorship arrangements would be excellent news for pupils of the school."

Joanne McCarron-Charles, Headteacher at Dudley Infant School said: "During our recent inspection, the lead inspector indicated that we were well on our way to Outstanding. Collaboration with West St Leonards and Elphinstone under the sponsorship of the Hastings Academy Trust will secure and enhance that outcome."

Frances Robinson, Headteacher at West St Leonards Primary School said: "At West St Leonards we want the best for our community. This means that we need to work with skilled providers of training and support whilst taking advantage of the curriculum freedoms given to Academies.

"Children learn best when subjects are taught in an exciting and relevant way and working with the University of Brighton which is graded 'outstanding,' will mean we can take advantage of the highest quality services available."

Tsai Tenn, Headteacher at Elphinstone Primary, said: "Elphinstone School is on a journey of improvement towards 'Outstanding'. A recent review by the Local Authority acknowledged that we have made notable improvements and recognised our 'potential for rapid improvement'. We believe that working in collaboration with outstanding providers, like the University of Brighton, and 'Good' schools that are as ambitious as Elphinstone for our children, will add positively to the next phase of our journey. This is an exciting time for Elphinstone School."

Plans are at a very early stage so no final decisions have yet been made. The academies would still be state-funded, would continue to serve their existing communities, and would be bound by the same Codes on admissions, special educational needs and exclusions as all other state-funded schools.

Consultation events for parents, carers and other stakeholders will be held on Monday 3 June, from 6:30pm (Dudley), Tuesday 4 June from 6:30pm (West St Leonards); and Thursday 6 June, from 6:30pm (Elphinstone). For more general information on academies, please visit www.education.gov.uk/academies.

Further information

Academies are all-ability, state-funded schools established and managed by sponsors from a wide range of backgrounds, including high performing schools and colleges, universities, and businesses. Some are established educational providers, and all of them bring a record of success in other enterprises which they are able to apply to their academies in partnership with experienced school managers. All academies are bound by the same School Admissions Code, SEN Code of Practice and exclusions guidance as all other state-funded schools. All new academies are also required to follow the National Curriculum programmes of study in English, maths, science and ICT.

Should the conversion to academy status proceed, the employment rights of members of staff would be protected under the 2006 TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) regulations.