Change of school category from community to foundation
Notice is given in accordance with section 19(3) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 that Governing Body of The Sanders Draper School and Specialist Science College intends to make a prescribed alteration to The Sanders Draper School and Specialist Science College, a community school, of Suttons Lane, Hornchurch, Essex, RM12 6RT. The proposed alteration is to Change School Category from Community to Foundation from 01 March 2009.
Being a Foundation school will give The Sanders Draper School greater control over the direction of the school, displaying a philosophy of self confidence and autonomy in our continuous drive to raise standards. In a rapidly changing educational environment being a Foundation school will also enable us to develop formal and informal partnerships to support our students’ attainment and to achieve our longer term aspiration of delivering some post 16 education and training as the learner participation age is raised to 18.
This Notice is an extract from the complete proposal. Copies of the complete proposal can be obtained from: the Head Teacher at The Sanders Draper School and Specialist Science College, Suttons Lane, Hornchurch, Essex, RM12 6RT - 01708 443068 or on the school's website.
Within four weeks from the date of publication of this proposal, any person may object to or make comments on the proposal by sending them to The Chair of Governors, The Sanders Draper School and Specialist Science College, Suttons Lane, Hornchurch, Essex, RM12 6RT
Matters to be Specified in Foundation Proposals
1. All proposals must include the following information—
(a) School Details
The name, address and category of the school for which the governing body are publishing the proposals;
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The Sanders Draper School and Specialist Science College, Suttons Lane, Hornchurch, Essex RM12 6RT. A community school.
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(b) Dates
The proposed implementation date (“implementation date”);
(c) Objections and comments
A statement explaining that any person may object to, or comment on, the proposals and procedure for making such representations, including—
(i) the date (4 weeks from the publication date) by which objections or comments should be sent to the governing body; and
(ii) the address to which objections or comments should be sent;
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Any person may object to or comment on the proposals. This can be done in writing to the Chair of Governors, The Sanders Draper School and SpecialistScienceCollege, Suttons Lane, Hornchurch, Essex, RM12 6RT or by email to governors@sandersdraper.org.uk The date by which any objections or comments must be received is XXX 2008.
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(d) Consultation
Evidence of the consultation before the proposals were published including—
(i) a list of persons who were consulted;
(ii) minutes of all public consultation meetings;
(iii) the views of the persons consulted;
(iv) a statement to the effect that all applicable statutory requirements in relation to the proposal to consult were complied with; and
(v) copies of all consultation documents and a statement on how these documents were made available;
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The statutory requirements in relation to the informal consultation period where complied with. During this period the following were consulted by the means set out below:
Parents of registered pupils at the school (letter and vision statement – appendix 1 and minutes of consultation meeting appendix 2). Those parents who attended the consultation meeting supported the proposals and no objections were received from other parents.
All staff employed at the school. Separate meetings took place with support staff and teaching staff (appendix 3) and then all staff. No objections were raised at these meetings, but a subsequent ballot of support staff conducted by a union representative revealed that the majority of those responding opposed the change. Further discussions showed that these objections related to concerns about changes to pension rights and conditions of service. Reassurances have been offered in these respects (letter to all staff - appendix 4).
Registered pupils. Presentation of vision statement to Student Council meeting on 15th May 2008. Representatives then discussed this with their year councils and vision also presented to year group assemblies by the Head Teacher. Further Student Council meetings were then held on 23rd May 2008 and 18th June 2008 and (appendix 5). Pupils received the vision positively and no objections were made.
Letter received from the Director of Children’s Services, Havering Council (appendix 6).
The governing bodies, staff and parents of
¨ Scargill Junior School; Suttons Primary School, Ayloff Primary School, Hacton Primary School, Scotts Primary School, Dunningford Primary School, RJ Mitchell Primary School
¨ Gaynes School, BrittonsTechnologyCollege, AbbsCrossSchool and The ChaffordSchool
Letters of support received from Brittons and Gaynes (appendix 7) and letter/email (appendix 8) from the Head Teacher/Chair of Governors of Suttons Primary School received seeking clarification on boundary issues and partnership working. Clarification issued and boundary agreed (appendix 9).
The Learning and Skills Council for England. Response received and no objections raised (appendix 10).
Member of Parliament for the constituency in which the school is located. Acknowledgement received (appendix 11).
Letter from NAS/UWT regarding teacher union response to informal consultation (appendix 12).
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(e) Alteration description
A statement of which one of, or combinations of, the alterations prescribed in regulation 3 of the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2007 comprise the proposals.
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A change of category from community to foundation
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2. Where the prescribed alteration is a change of category to foundation, the proposals must contain the following information—
(a) the rationale for the proposals;
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Being a Foundation school will give The Sanders Draper School greater control over the direction of the school, displaying a philosophy of self confidence and autonomy and, most importantly, being able to take its own decisions based on what is best for the school and its students.
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(b) a statement that the school will—
(i) have a foundation established otherwise than under SSFA 1998; or
(ii) belong to a group of schools for which a foundation body acts; or
(iii) be a foundation school not falling within either of sub-paragraphs (i) or (ii);
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The school will be a foundation school not falling within either of sub-paragraphs (i) or (ii)
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