Multi Academy Trusts: Exploring partnership options for your school in West Sussex - Additional Session

Name

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Role

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School Name

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District

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DfE Number

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Key Question 1. Has the Governing Body formally considered academising in the last four years?

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Yes

Key Question 2. To date, how many Trusts and what kind of Trusts have you explored or had conversations with?

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One MAT

Two MATs

A wide range of MATs

Single stand-alone academy

Small local Trust with schools in your phase only

Larger MATs including those from outside West Sussex

I have not explored Trusts

Other (please specify)

Key Question 3. What has stopped you from academising and joining a MAT to date (you can select more than one)?

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Personalities either in the school or in the Trust

Concern on the loss of autonomy

The lack of clarity on benefits to the school

The lack of MAT interest due to the size of the school

The MAT offer and lack of perceived added value it would bring

Financial issues

Current satisfaction with the way the school is currently working and supported

The lack of choice

A lack of transparency from the Trusts

The quality of the Trusts

Concern on the MAT's ability to provide the support the school needs

I don't have any concerns about academising

Other (please specify)

10.

Key Question 4. If exploring a Trust Partnership now, what are the key non-negotiables for you and your school (you can select more than one)?

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The personalities involved in the Trust

Protection of local governance and school autonomy

Protecting already existing locality partnerships

The breadth of expertise within the Trust to support including phase specific, SEND etc.

The ethos and local reputation of the Trust

Standards in other schools within the Trust

The geographical location of the Trust and therefore easy access to support

The Trust's approach to inclusion

The Trust's school improvement approach and expectations of schools within

The Trust's financial transparency with schools

The Trust's proven commitment and support for small schools

Longer term commitment by the Trusts to the future protection of the school

Protection of current school structures and leadership

The size of the Trust and the way it has planned growth and expanded over time

Added USPs above those that are expected of all Trusts

I'm not exploring a Trust Partnership

Other (please specify)

11.

Key Question 5. In planning to be a part of a Trust Partnership by 2030, which of the following would be your preferred options (grade 1-5, 1 being your first choice and 5 being your last)?

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Join an established and larger MAT already active in West Sussex*

Join with smaller local academies or MATs and be part of the growth of the Trust

Seek a partnership with a Trust external to West Sussex

Work with other maintained schools and with local authority support to establish a new local Trust partnership

Work with the local authority to set up a local authority established MAT

*A large or Strong Trust is defined by the DfE as being one with a strong school improvement approach, sound financial control, able to provide support to improve teaching quality, inclusive at all levels, and with circa 10 schools or 7,700 pupils within the Trust

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Key question 6. What are the current principles and organisational features of your school that you would insist on retaining should the school academise? Please state these.

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13.

Key Question 7. What role do you see for the Local Authority in respect of moving all schools towards a Trust led system by 2030?

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Providing information for schools on MATs and options for schools

Distilling information on performance and quality on all MATs to be able to share this openly with schools

Actively seeking new MATs from outside of West Sussex for schools to engage with

Actively brokering partnerships between schools and existing Strong Trusts

Matching schools to MATs and facilitating the academisation process

Working with schools to help them set up their own collaboration

Setting up their own MATs and working with schools to join local authority established MATs

Other (please specify)

14.

Key Question 8. What do you feel would be the key challenges to overcome for the school to academise (you can select more than one)?

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Financial and future financial projection

Size of the school and both current and projected enrolment

Parent opinions

Staff preferences

Governing Body opposition

A lack of trust in the academy rationale

A perceived loss of local decision making

Loss of access to current support mechanisms

Other (please specify)