Consultation on the proposal to form a Multi Academy Trust between Ridgeway Middle School, First School Academy, First School and First School

The Proposal

Ridgeway Middle School, Webheath First School Academy, Astwood Bank First School and Feckenham First School (“The Schools”) are proposing to form a Multi Academy Trust (MAT).

The Purpose of the Consultation Document

The purpose of this document is to provide information on a proposal for “The Schools” to form a Multi Academy Trust (MAT).

Background

Ridgeway Middle School is situated in Astwood Bank, . The Planned Admission Number is 120 but the school is heavily oversubscribed and has taken 150 pupils in Year 5 for the last few years. The school serves Astwood Bank and surrounding areas of Redditch. Staff and pupils enjoy our lovely surroundings and spacious playing fields and we have our own livestock on our grounds that the pupils look after. We also offer pupils in Yr7 and Yr8 the opportunity to sit Level 2 Functional Skills (GCSE). Our pupils are friendly, polite and enjoy school. Our staff work hard to ensure pupils feel safe, enjoy school and learn. When pupils leave Ridgeway, they are equipped with experiences and skills that will ensure they are prepared for the next stage in their education. The Ofsted Inspection in May 2013 states that Ridgeway is a Good school.

Webheath First School Academy is a slightly larger than average school, which serves the local community. The Planned Admission Number is 60 and the school is heavily oversubscribed. The school also has Nursery provision, Before & After School Childcare and a Holiday Playscheme. The Ofsted Inspection in February 2011 concluded that Webheath is a good school with many outstanding features. Particular strengths of the school include the strong & effective leadership and exceptionally good levels of pastoral care, guidance and support given to pupils; which enable them to achieve at levels beyond those expected and behave well.

Astwood Bank First School is a 2 form intake, community first school near to Redditch. We have an extremely stable school population often teaching whole families across generations and are always oversubscribed. We have 300 pupils on roll and our Planned Admission Number is 60. The school is organised into 10 classes, 2 of each year group. We are an inclusive school, valuing and respecting everyone equally. We teach our pupils to set high

expectations of themselves and to show compassion towards others. As such our pupils leave our school as enthusiastic and independent learners and fully prepared for the next phase of education. Astwood Bank First School secured a judgement of ‘Outstanding’ in the last Ofsted inspection, March 2010 and results of assessments remain consistently above the National Averages. The report highlighted the richness and variety of the curriculum and the outstanding care, guidance and support provided by the committed and extremely skilled staff team.

Feckenham Church of First School is located in the historic rural village of Feckenham. It serves the parishes of Feckenham and Bradley Green, however many of our pupils come from other areas of Redditch. Our number on roll has increased over the last four years from 99 pupils to the present day 121. Class sizes are smaller than the national average with a Pupil Admission Number (PAN) of 23, however to meet parental requests the intake in Reception has been 25 over the last 5 years. We are a small Church School and as such actively promote Christian Values which has helped create an excellent ethos of shared responsibility for maintaining a happy, safe and inclusive school. Our last Ofsted inspection was in January 2013 which resulted in an overall ‘Good’ grading but with an ‘Outstanding’ grading for Behaviour and Safeguarding. Children at our school achieve well with the majority of pupils regularly exceeding the national expectation for their age. Our curriculum and teaching supports pupils’ interests and immediate needs; there is an expectation that they will challenge themselves and persevere to reach personal goals.

“The Schools” currently work closely with each other and want to extend this working partnership in the future for the benefit of the local children, families and communities. We believe that that local schools working together is key to the success of all of the local schools.

Objectives of the proposal

• To ensure that all of “The Schools” involved in the proposal, work positively as partners to ensure a high quality and localised educational provision. • To ensure parents have access to a coherent and well-planned education structure between “The Schools” in the local community. • To engage in determined collaborative working partnerships between and among phases with a view to enhancing the sharing of specialist provision and resources. • To provide and sustain the highest standards of education whilst maintaining the nurturing and well-being of all children. • Provide specialist teaching areas across the curriculum sharing best practice among “The Schools”. • To maintain the unique identities of each of “The Schools”. • To drive best value across “The Schools”.

The changes

The establishment of a MAT incorporating Ridgeway Middle School, Webheath First School Academy, Astwood Bank First School and Feckenham First School.

Implementing the changes

The establishment of this MAT will have no day to day impact on the education of the children in “The Schools”. However, the MAT will drive educational standards across “The Schools” and therefore improve outcomes for the children we serve.

Admissions

“The Schools” recognise the changing environment in which we operate, both nationally and locally. The formation of this MAT would allow “The Schools” to respond quickly and efficiently to any change that presented itself in a way that would minimise disruption to the children and maintain parental choice. The formation of the MAT will see no changes in current Admissions for any of “The Schools”.

The potential age range changes being discussed across Redditch at the moment may, however, lead to changes at each of “The Schools”. Should Redditch, or parts of it, move to a two-tier education system then this would impact on the Admissions for each of “The Schools” in this MAT. Ridgeway Middle School has already submitted a business case to the EFA to convert to a Secondary School which would see their Admissions increase from 480 to 600 pupils for Years 7-11. Astwood Bank First School and Webheath First School have both completed consultations to become Primary Schools which, following the submission and approval of a business case to the EFA would see their Admissions increase from 300 to 420 for Reception to Year 6 in each school. Feckenham First School are consulting through the Local Authority to become a Primary school and increase their Admissions for Reception to year 6 from 115 to 138.

Process of Consultation

In order to engage in meaningful and informed consultation, we will be providing the opportunity for individuals and institutions to make written submissions about the proposals.

The period of consultation for establishment of the MAT will run from Friday 7th November 2014 until 12 noon on Monday 5 th January 2015.

The question on the attached form will be helpful for our consultation report, but please do not feel obliged to answer it if you do not wish to. The information may help us when

considering your opinions and to make sure we are getting views from all sections of the community.

We are genuinely interested in your thoughts and opinions and will ensure that all comments are put forward under this consultation. To this end, information will be displayed on each of “The Schools”’ websites: http://www.webheath.worcs.sch.uk/ http://www.astwoodbank.worcs.sch.uk/ http://www.ridgeway.worcs.sch.uk under the Community section http://www.feckenhamfirst.com/

Electronic feedback can be sent to the following e-mail addresses:

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Written feedback can be sent to each of “The Schools” marked ‘MAT Consultation’.

All of this information will be collated for the schools to meet in mid-January 2015 where they will decide whether or not to make a submission to the Secretary of State.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at “The Schools”.

Yours sincerely,

Mike Bennett Chris Millward Head Teacher – Ridgeway Head Teacher – Webheath

Debbie Yarnold Jeannette Little Head Teacher – Astwood Bank Head Teacher - Feckenham

Consultation on the proposal to form a Multi Academy Trust between Ridgeway Middle School, Webheath First School Academy, Astwood Bank First School and Feckenham First School

Consultation Response Form

The statement on this form is provided to help you respond to the Consultation document. If you prefer not to use this form, you can also put your views in a letter or an email.

Letters and forms should be returned to:

Ridgeway Middle School, Evesham Road, Astwood Bank, Redditch, Worcs B96 6BD.

Webheath First School Academy, Downsell Road, Webheath, Redditch, Worcs B97 5RJ.

Astwood Bank First School, Church Rd, Astwood Bank, Redditch B96 6EH

Feckenham First School, School Lane, Feckenham, Redditch, Worcs B96 6QD

Emails can be sent to:

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

To be considered, responses must be received by midday on Monday 5 th January 2015.

I support the proposed MAT between Ridgeway Middle School, Webheath First School Academy, Astwood Bank First School and Feckenham First School .

Strongly Agree Neither Disagree Strongly Don’t Agree Agree or Disagree Know Disagree

Additional Comments: