CONSULTATION ON THE DE-AMALGAMATION OF PRIMARY FROM FOLKESTONE

Proposal

Turner Schools is undertaking a consultation to seek the views of the stakeholders of Folkestone Academy about separating the All Age Academy in to two separate entities, a and a with Sixth Form. These would be known as Folkestone Primary, and Folkestone Academy. By stakeholders, Turner Schools is referring to the parents, students, feeder schools and nurseries, and service providers (including the Local Authority, and leaders of Alternative Provision) of the All Age Academy. The two schools that would result from such a division, which is known as a ‘de-amalgamation’, would have separate unique reference numbers and – as such — would have their own admissions policies, and independent Ofsted inspections.

Subject to the feedback from the consultation, and pending approval from the Department for Education, we would anticipate the change to take effect from the beginning of September 2020.

Background

Folkestone All Age Academy is a non-selective school which caters for boys and girls of all abilities from ages 2-19. The academy was created when Folkestone Academy, an 11 to 18 school changed its age range to 4 to 18, following the closure of the neighbouring Park Farm Primary School, opening a Kindergarten shortly afterwards, which now admits 2 year olds. Folkestone All Age Academy is currently structured as follows:

• A kindergarten for children aged 2 to 4 • A primary phase for children 4 (rising 5s) to 11 • A secondary phase for children aged 11 to 16 • A sixth form for young people aged 16 to 19

The Academy has a total capacity for 2,170 children and young people. Although the primary and secondary phases operate within separate buildings, both are co-located at Academy Lane, Folkestone, , CT19 5FP.

Rationale for the change

 Whilst legally the Academy is one entity, it has operated as two separate entities from the outset, with independent branding and a separate uniform accordingly. Parents, pupils and the wider community we serve, already view the phases as if they are discrete schools.  It is not in the interest of the community to run the provision as all-through because the school does not, and has not for some years, functioned as an all-through in terms of being the main feeder for the secondary phase. In reality, parents of Folkestone Academy Primary phase have a wide choice of secondary education available to them in the area. Parents exercise this choice with as many leavers going to Turner Schools’ other secondary school - Turner Free School – and to the town’s two Grammar Schools, as choose the secondary phase of Folkestone Academy. Consequently, the Academy does not represent an all-through provision for a significant number of pupils.  Governance could be further strengthened by separating the local arrangements for primary and secondary phases.  As mentioned, de-amalgamation of the two phases will enable each phase, as a distinct school, to be independently inspected by Ofsted. We believe this will allow all stakeholders to have a more accurate

picture of the performance of each phase; primary and secondary. Currently this is not possible, which diminishes an important element of parental choice.  Provision can be more fluidly tailored to meet the needs of the pupils.  Policies can be bespoke for the specific schools, tailored for the age groups served.  Separation in to two distinct schools would foster clearer identities, helping with recruiting and retaining high calibre staff whilst enabling pupils to flourish in their own setting.

What will change?

With the advantages of de-amalgamation outlined above, it is important to state that some things will not change. From a student’s or parent’s perspective, there will be:

 No material change to the admissions criteria to the Primary and Secondary schools. The current policy would be separated into two documents, one for primary and one for secondary. Pupils of the Primary phase would continue to have priority admission to the secondary phase, as well as to Turner Free School, in the oversubscription criteria, as members of the Turner Schools family.  No change to the Published Admissions Number (PAN).  No change to the curriculum caused by the separation.  No change to leadership, i.e. Mr Seamus Murphy will remain as Executive Principal of Folkestone Academy and Miss Louise Feaver will remain as Principal of Folkestone Primary.  Staff will continue to be employed by Turner Schools as they are now.  The Primary school will still have access to the facilities of the Secondary school, including its kitchen, theatre and sports grounds.  No change to school hours or term times.  No change to uniforms (logos will be updated to reflect the revised name only once current stock is sold through).  The all-age Choir will continue to rehearse and perform together.

The things that will change are:

 The names of the schools. They will become Folkestone Primary and Folkestone Academy.  Their ‘URNs’ or official Unique Reference Numbers (which are associated with Ofsted inspections, funding allocation and admissions).  The admission policies – dividing the current “All Age” policy in to two; a primary and secondary one.  Academy policy and practise can become more easily age-appropriate.  School signage, including letterhead, will be updated to reflect the name changes if the proposal is approved.

To be clear, both schools resulting from de-amalgamation will retain Academy status, and continue as part of the Turner Schools Multi-Academy Trust, benefitting from its ambitious educational ethos, and from cost effective central services.

Consultation

We wish to invite interested parties to take part in this consultation on the proposal. The consultation will take place for a minimum of 6 weeks between Monday, 2nd March 2020 and Monday, 13th April 2020.

There are two elements to the consultation. The first, about the proposal for de-amalgamation itself. The second, on the resulting separate primary and secondary admissions policies that would result. These policies can be viewed on the Academy’s website: https://www.folkestoneacademy.com/about-us/de- amalgamation-faaa

We will consult with the parents and other stakeholders for Folkestone Academy including:

• parents and carers of children between the ages of two and nineteen; • other persons in the relevant area who, in the Trust’s opinion, have an interest in the proposed change; • all admission authorities within the relevant area; • feeder schools to the academy; and • partner organisations to the academy.

Your views on any aspect of the proposal will be sent to the Turner Schools Board of Trustees. All responses received by the end of the consultation period will be carefully considered and will form part of a Business Case submitted to the Department for Education for final decision.

We invite you, therefore, to take part in this consultation. Comments may be submitted in the following ways:

By attending meetings:

Staff: Monday, 2nd March at 3.45pm (Folkestone Academy) Parents: Tuesday, 17th March at 9.15am (Folkestone Primary) and 4.30pm (Folkestone Academy) Pupils: Assemblies week commencing 16th March

By email to: [email protected]

By completing the attached response form and posting to:

Mrs Cheryl Southern, Clerk to the Trust Board, Turner Schools, 4 Westbrook House, 58-60 Shorncliffe Road, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2NQ.

By completing an online response form at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/FAcons

Further details available at: https://www.folkestoneacademy.com/about-us/de-amalgamation-faaa

Yours sincerely,

Dr J J Saxton, Chief Executive, For and on behalf of the Directors of Turner Schools.

Response Form

Consultation on the proposal to de-amalgamate Folkestone Academy

Name: ______

Address: ______Address ______

Postcode: ______

Please tick:

Parent at Folkestone Pupil at Folkestone Staff at Folkestone Primary Primary Primary

Parent at Folkestone Student at Folkestone Staff at Folkestone Secondary Secondary Secondary

Other (please state) ______

Do you support the proposal to separate the All Age Academy into two separate entities, a primary school and a secondary school with Sixth Form?

YES NO

Comments (please attach separate sheets of paper if necessary):

Do you support the proposed separate primary and secondary admission policies? These would take effect for admissions from September 2021

YES NO

Comments (please attach separate sheets of paper if necessary):

Signature: ______Date ______

It is important that you sign and date this form.

Responses must be received by Monday, 13th April 2020.

Please return response forms either to the School Office, or by post to: Mrs Cheryl Southern, Clerk to the Trust Board, Turner Schools, 4 Westbrook House, 58-60 Shorncliffe Road, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2NQ.

Or by email (please title your email De-amalgamation Proposal) to [email protected]

The information provided will be used for the analysis of responses received as part of the Consultation on the proposal and for the purpose of compiling recommendations for the Department for Education. Personal information given here will not be used for purposes other than this Consultation.