THE PINNACLE LEARNING TRUST MEMBERS MEETING Friday 29th September 2017 At OSFC At 12:45

Present: Mrs Jayne Clarke (JC) Executive Principal/Principal OSFC Mr Dave McEntee (DM) Principal Mr Andrew Kilburn (AK) MAT Member Cllr Ateeque Ur-Rehman (AU) MAT Member Baroness Estelle Morris (EM) MAT Member Dr Sanna Waseem Khawaja (SW) MAT Member

In Attendance: Miss Danielle Hunt Company Secretary/Clerk

Welcome and Introductions

AK welcomed all attendees to the meeting and formal introductions were made. AK explained that there is no formal agenda for this preliminary meeting, however there are resolutions that need to be officially passed by Members, hence the requirement for the meeting.

Members Update

JC informed Members that Professor Miles Hewstone, a professor of psychology at Oxford has now been confirmed as a Member of the Pinnacle Learning Trust. Professor Hewstone has been undertaking some longitudinal research in and was very interested positive about becoming involved in the Trust. JC advised Professor Hewstone is an expert in his field and a friend of both colleges, however, no formalities had been carried out thus far.

JC explained that she was hoping to have a Member confirmed from the University of Manchester in the very near future. Brian Cox had previously verbally agreed to become a Member of the Trust, however this was not confirmed. It is hoped that Professor Danielle George, a professor of engineering, might be

1 approached to become a Member. Kevin Sinfield, a former student of OSFC and /Leeds Rhinos rugby league captain had also been approached, although JC was unsure if he will commit to the role and hoped to have everything finalised within the next couple of weeks.

Performance

JC explained that OSFC became a 16-19 academy on 1st September 2017, the same date that Hathershaw converted from a single academy (The Hathershaw College Academy Trust) to a MAT (The Pinnacle Learning Trust) in full partnership with OSFC.

JC advised that OSFC’s performance remains strong, having just obtained its first strong set of results following the introduction of linear A-Levels. The last Ofsted inspection, which took place this time last year, graded the college good and OSFC will most likely be self-assessing as a very strong good, based on this year’s outcomes.

JC was pleased to report that the Teaching School application had been successful and OSFC would be working in close partnership with Hathershaw, Saddleworth, North Chadderton, Parrs Wood and five primary schools locally within the Teaching School Alliance. JC advised that there had been no induction as yet, however, there was the makings of a clear action plan that is linked to the Opportunity Area priorities.

DM informed Members that Hathershaw traditionally has a history of high levels of deprivation and low levels of attainment on entry. Despite this, students continue to perform very well and for the last three years, both progress and attainment outcomes have remained above the national standard. DM was pleased to report that the college’s Progress 8 figure is +0.35 and +0.31 for Disadvantaged students, which is fantastic and is evidence that the gap between Disadvantaged students and Others at the college is narrowing.

DM explained that at the last Ofsted inspection, Hathershaw was graded good. The college’s SEF grades itself as a solid good, with aspirations of becoming outstanding by the time of the next Ofsted inspection.

DM confirmed that Hathershaw had been a stand-alone academy since 2011.

JC explained that since forming the MAT, there had already been some cross-MAT working, including aligning both institutions’ finance software and forming a single payroll, HR was aligning and ICT services had already begun to work together, along with various teaching and learning and peer mentoring developments between teaching staff and students from the two colleges.

MAT Growth

DM advised that two local primary schools had expressed an interest in joining the MAT; Medlock Valley Primary and Broadfield Primary. Broadfield, he explained, is a solidly good primary school and Medlock is currently graded good, but have recently self-assessed as requiring improvement, with an Ofsted inspection pending.

AK advised that OSFC had been through the Area Review process and had considered both Ashton SFC and in terms of forging close partnership links, but felt that OSFC’s history, traditions and values fitted more closely with Hathershaw. AK felt that colleagues have a clear understanding of the values which underpin the Trust and felt the partnership is built on solid foundations, which is essential to its success.

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In terms of growth, AK advised that no definite figure has been placed upon the number of schools that will be permitted to join the PLT, but felt that perhaps between ten and fifteen schools is an appropriate number.

JC felt that Trustees must be cautious about growing too rapidly, explaining that not many local secondary schools have not already joined a MAT or have not begun the process of joining one. Saddleworth and Radclyffe are the only secondary schools in the area who do not belong to a MAT but both schools are currently resistant to becoming academies. Royton and Crompton have recently been placed in special measures and will most likely be sponsored by a large national academy chain.

EM asked whether Members foresee competition surrounding adopting the good primary schools into their MAT’s.

JC advised that as well as Pinnacle, North Chadderton and Crompton House have also formed MATs. Other schools have joined large academy chains such as Oasis and E-ACT and Waterhead is part of the South Pennine Trust. A number of primaries have joined MATs and JC felt that there will be competition to attract the good schools, however, TPLT is very much focussed on local schools within Oldham.

EM asked whether the Trust would be interested in adopting a primary school that was in special measures.

AU felt that the vision of the PLT is to help struggling institutions to improve, particularly improving standards in Oldham.

JC informed members that the Trust had already been approached to support prior to it closing down and prior to the official formation of the MAT. JC acknowledged there may be external pressure to adopt struggling schools in the future.

AK felt that issues of capacity and growth are ones that will be carefully considered, adding that Trustees will decline schools if they feel they are unsuitable.

JC agreed, adding that the Trust will not look to adopt primary schools of grade three or grade four before there is a good primary school within the MAT for them to work with. JC informed Members that there are currently five primary schools within the Teaching School Alliance, four graded good and one graded outstanding, so having the Teaching School at the centre of the MAT adds capacity, even though not all schools within the Teaching School Alliance are within the MAT.

JC pointed out that it had recently come to light that church schools can be included in MATs, therefore links with St Martins Primary School could potentially be explored further.

Appointment of Trustees

AK informed Members that the Trust has secured eight out of a maximum of nine potential Trustees, of which a minimum of five have to be officially appointed whilst there is a quorate group of Members.

AK felt that the group of Trustees is a very strong group and along with DM, JC, AU and AK, includes John Porter, a local solicitor who was a parent Governor at OSFC and who is now their Chair of Governors. Chris Wilson, who was a senior manager at the Co-op Bank and who helped with the establishment of the University Centre in Oldham. Sandra Mavro-Michaelis who was previously a Primary Headteacher and Primary School Advisor and Mike Gibbons who was formerly Director of External Relations at the University of Manchester and is now Deputy Registrar at MMU and who sat on OSFC’s Governing Body previously for five years.

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JC explained that a Trustee vacancy will be kept open for a primary head once a primary school joins the MAT in order that all phases are represented. At the first formal meeting of the Trustees on 17th October, a draft development plan will be discussed and shared with Members in due course.

RESOLVED: Members of The Pinnacle Learning Trust formally appointed John Porter, Chris Wilson, Jayne Clarke, Dave McEntee, Andrew Kilburn, Sandra Mavro-Michaelis, Mike Gibbons and Ateeque Ur-Rehman as Trustees of The Pinnacle Learning Trust.

AK felt it would be of benefit that pictures of Trustees are circulated.

Vision and Values

AK distributed the vision and values document, informing Members that a great deal of time had been spent on ensuring the right amount of detail is included in order that people understand why the PLT has been formed and ultimately its vision to promote high standards and excellence.

AK advised that the PLT Board intend to focus on the vision and values and the Trust’s aspirations for the next three years, advising that Trustees have already begun to discuss the profile and identity of the MAT, along with the importance of good governance.

AK advised that he and JC had recently attended an event for new academies and, although there was some useful content, AK felt that the ethos and direction of the PLT would be very different to that of the larger academy chains.

AK advised that the scheme of delegation for schools joining the MAT will be dependent upon the status of each school. Trustees have been tasked with establishing a process for adopting other schools into the MAT, which will be different and geared towards the needs of each individual institution.

AK advised that his vision is also for the LGBs to retain their powers in order that governors wish to remain on the Boards and do not feel their decision making powers have been relinquished.

AK felt that in terms of how much information is provided to the Members, his intention was to send the Board papers with important details highlighted, in order that colleagues do not have to scrutinise every detail and are not deluged with irrelevant information. If problems do emerge, Trustees will ensure that Members are informed without delay.

Teaching School

JC explained that the work of the Teaching School has direct links to the Opportunity Area initiative, whereby twelve opportunity areas were identified across the country on the basis that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are not performing well. This is a DfE initiative and there is a DfE lead working with a newly-established Opportunity Area Board for Oldham on the priorities for the town. Funding will follow this and support will subsequently be put into place. JC felt strongly that it is important that all the good work from the Oldham Commission is not lost.

JC advised that the Education Partnership Board, established post-Commission, has recently been reconstituted differently, and there is no cross-over with colleagues who sit on the Opportunity Area Board. JC felt that the two initiatives need to align themselves as presently there is no formal join up between the two, with the Commission being owned by the LA and the Opportunity Area being led by the DfE. JC felt that they need to be streamlined as much as possible and that this was acknowledged by the DfE in terms of OA developments. JC informed Members that the priorities for Oldham have been identified as: Early Years Literacy; Outcomes for Secondary Disadvantaged students and Resilience and Mental Health across all phases, which are not dissimilar to the recommendations of the Commission.

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JC explained that OSFC as a Teaching School must devise an action plan and the aim was to focus on these priorities. Presently, JC is gathering information regarding what different establishments can offer across the Teaching School Alliance. JC informed Members that she hopes to submit a Strategic School Improvement Fund bid, linked to the proposed Teaching School action plan, by 20th October 2017.

JC advised that Vicky Beer, Regional Schools Commissioner, had explained that the Teaching School should be at the centre of the MAT and any funding will be tilted towards Opportunity Areas.

JC explained that there had been no funding available as yet, however she had been made aware that £200,000 of funding for research schools should help provide the support required.

EM advised she would be launching the Oldham Research School at Newman College on 16th October and will check what other institutions are doing in terms of funding.

Further Information

AK invited Members to ask any questions they have regarding their role.

In terms of meetings, AK confirmed that there will be a maximum of two or three meetings per year. AK was keen not to schedule unnecessary meetings, but was also keen for Members to feel sufficiently engaged with the role.

AK circulated information regarding the legal responsibilities of Members.

JC assured Members that it is the Trustees who undertake the majority of the practical governance work.

Following discussion, the date of the next meeting was agreed as Friday 23rd February, 12.45 at Hathershaw.

JC invited members to attend OSFC’s Celebration Evening on 19th December.

There being no further business, colleagues were thanked for their time and the meeting was declared closed at 1350.

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