Consultation on Proposed Changes to Age-Ranges, Structures And

Consultation on proposed changes to age-ranges, structures and admissions to Harrold Priory and Margaret Beaufort Middle schools Wednesday 11th November 2015 at 10.00am – Friday 8th January 2016 at 12.00pm Sharnbrook Academy Federation Consultation on proposed changes to age-ranges, structures and admissions to Harrold Priory and Margaret Beaufort Middle schools

Introduction The Sharnbrook Academy Federation (SAF) consulted in early 2015 about the need to restructure the education provision within our organisation to form a two-tier structure. This would end the current Middle school system and provide a more commonly accepted system of primary and secondary education. Despite receiving considerable support from parents for these two schools to become primary, we paused that consultation process because we believed that following the local election in May 2015 the argument between the education professionals had been won and the Local Authority now had the impetus and agreement to join with us in our drive to achieve two tier. The Federation is strongly of the view that Bedford Borough is to be commended for its move towards a genuine two-tier system of education, with full Primary and Secondary schools where students have a single point of transfer at age 11 (Year 7). However, the Federation also appreciates that the requirement to gain political and stakeholder support has led the Borough to support a growth of the lower school system at the expense of the highly performing middle schools in SAF. As a result, we are unable to support the closure of two academies and indeed, closure is contrary to Government policy, which seeks to maintain and expand the remit of successful academy groups. This consultation therefore is solely about SAF schools. It is worth stating at this point the concerns we have of the current system of school organisation. Sharnbrook Academy Federation believes that education is about the whole child, supporting, and guiding their development and transition to adulthood. Our aim is that every student attains their full potential academically, and develops the life-skills they will need once their time in school has ended, so that they become well-rounded individuals.

1 Within the Proposal outlined in this consultation document, the principles we are working to are: • Change must not be disruptive to students currently in the system; • There being a single point of transfer between the ages of 4 (Year R) and 16 (Year 11); • That Key Stage 2 is ultimately taught in a single school and not split between schools; • From the age of 11 (Year 7), students need to be in a secondary school with access to specialist teaching and facilities; and, • The specialist provision for children with autism at Lincroft School from age 9 – 16 continues. Whilst the Federation schools pride themselves on delivering high-quality education, the current structure provides challenges to sustaining that. In Middle Schools, these are: • There is a lack of teacher training for middle Years teachers; • A decline in the number of middle schools nationally is resulting in fewer teachers being available with the relevant experience, skills and specialist subject knowledge (e.g. Science); • A move into middle schools for Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) could be seen as a limiting career choice; • Our students have to change schools part way through a key stage, in most areas of the country a school will teach all of Key Stage 2 (Years 3 - 6) or all of Key Stage 3 (Years 7 - 9).

2 Proposal Our Proposal is: That Harrold Priory Middle School ceases to be a Middle school and expands its age range, becoming a Primary School offering provision from age 4 (Year R) to age 11 (Year 6) from 2017 That Margaret Beaufort Middle School also ceases to be a Middle school and expands its age range, becoming a Primary School offering provision from age 4 (Year R) to age 11 (Year 6) from 2017

What will these changes mean? • Children will be taught two complete key stages in one school and SAF will be accountable for attainment at KS1 and KS2; • Children will be taught in a nurturing environment in a highly regarded Academy group; • There will be the same curriculum offer across the two SAF primary schools and this will be coordinated with the secondary requirements of the two SAF secondary schools; • Children will be taught by teachers experienced in both primary and KS3 requirements; • The schools already achieve outstanding results at KS2, end of primary phase in a traditional two tier system; • Access to specialist teaching and facilities in science and PE will be available to the older children in preparation for transfer to secondary; • Children in these schools will receive priority in the admissions process to Sharnbrook Academy; • Data and knowledge transfer between KS2 (end of primary) and KS3 (lower secondary) will be common and comprehensive; • Children will have access to extensive external play and sports facilities; • Staff recruitment to a school in line with the national age range should be easier; • The transition to a full primary school will be supported through our 28 school alliance, The Pilgrim Learning Trust. This will give access to good practice in 18 primary sector schools in Northamptonshire;

3 When will the changes happen? If, after the consultation, the SAF Governing Body decide they wish to proceed with the Proposal and the Secretary of State for Education agrees, it will be implemented from the beginning of the autumn term 2017, with the Harrold and Margaret Beaufort schools taking their first entry of pupils into Year R, 1, 2, 3, 4. The year 5 entry point will continue. Interim planning to enable this to happen will commence in September 2016. The new admission arrangements will apply in the 2016 admissions round for children joining the schools in 2017. Both primary schools will have an admission number of 30

How will this affect our current Catchment Area? The overall catchment area for the Federation’s schools will remain the same. Each school has separate admission arrangements and the proposed admissions arrangements which includes details of the catchment areas for each school. The draft admission arrangements (available from Monday 16 November) can be viewed at http://www.sharnbrook.beds.sch.uk/saf-governance/13589.html, or can be obtained as paper copies from SAF schools

4 As a parent, what will this mean for my child?

Current Year groups 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 November 2015 Apply for a place at either Harrold Years R to Academy or Year 3 Margaret Beaufort Academy for 2017

Year 11 at Year 4 – Year 6 at Sharnbrook apply for Join Year 5 MBMS Year 7 at Year 8 at Year 9 at Year 10 at middle at HPMS or or HPMS Sharnbrook Sharnbrook Sharnbrook Sharnbrook Transition school MBMS apply for school to 6th form place secondary subject to grades

Year 11 at Year 6 at Sharnbrook HPMS or Year 7 at Year 8 at Year 9 at Year 10 at Year 5 MBMS, Sharnbrook Sharnbrook Sharnbrook Sharnbrook Transition apply for school to 6th form Sharnbrook subject to grades

Year 7 at Year 11 at HPMS or Sharnbrook MBMS, Year 8 at Year 9 at Year 10 at Year 6 apply for Sharnbrook Sharnbrook Sharnbrook Transition a Year 8 to 6th form place at subject to Sharnbrook grades

Year 8 Year 11 at Sharnbrook at HPMS or MBMS, Year 9 at Year 10 at Year 7 Transition apply for Sharnbrook Sharnbrook to 6th form a Year 9 subject to place at grades Sharnbrook

Year 11 at Sharnbrook Join Year 9 Year 10 at Year 8 Sharnbrook Sharnbrook Transition to 6th form subject to grades

5 Numbers on Roll – changes from September 2017 onwards

Date Year R Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7 Year 8 TOTAL

Sep 2015 90 90 90 90 90 360

Sep 2016 90 90 90 90 90 360

Sep 2017 30 30 30 30 30 30 90 270

Sep 2018 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 210

How will school admissions be managed? Currently, our admissions are managed by the Local Authority (Bedford Borough). Places are allocated based on the admissions criteria, which take into account various factors such as catchment area, whether there are siblings at the school and whether the child is ‘looked after’. The admission arrangements for the two schools will need to change to take account of the Proposal. These have been drafted as far as possible to reflect the status quo giving similar priority to the communities that have historically had access to the schools in the Federation. These are being consulted upon now and can be viewed at: http://www.sharnbrook.beds.sch.uk/saf-governance/13589.html so that parents can see how the schools would be organised if the proposal is approved by the Department for Education. Paper copies are available by request from any of the SAF schools. There will be very close liaison with the Local Authority over the implications for school transport that arise from this Proposal.

6 What are the arrangements for the consultation process? The consultation process will run from at 10.00am Wednesday 11th November 2015 until 12pm on Friday 8th January 2016. During that period, we want to hear the views of: • Parents of current students • Parents of potential students in our feeder lower schools • Staff who work at SAF schools • Our feeder lower schools • Our local communities, including pre-school groups and Early Years Providers, Parish Councils and our current site users • Neighbouring schools • Bedford Borough Council, neighbouring Local Authorities, the Church of England and Roman Catholic Dioceses, the NHS Health Authority and other stakeholders • Our local MP

Students at all SAF schools will be consulted with using the appropriate Pupil Voice mechanisms.

What is the timescale for the whole process?

Event Timescale

Consultation process

Consultation event for Margaret Beaufort parents - 24 November 2015: Margaret Beaufort Middle School 5.45pm - 7pm* Consultation event for Harrold Priory parents - 26 November 2015: Harrold Priory Middle School 5.45pm - 7pm* Consultation event for Lincroft School parents - 30 November 2015: Lincroft Middle School 5.45pm - 7pm* Consultation Events: Consultation event for Sharnbrook Upper School parents and the wider community - 1 December 2015: Sharnbrook Upper School 5.45pm - 7pm* *Staff at each school will have separate consultation events on the dates above between 4.30pm - 5.30pm. Parents whose children currently attend a lower school, preschool or other Early Years provision are welcome at these sessions. Analysis of responses and preparation of 11 - 15 February 2016 Consultation Report If Governors decide to proceed, proposals will be submitted to the Education Funding Agency (EFA) for February 2016 consideration and then final approval by the Secretary of State Decision by Secretary of State via the Regional Anticipated June 2016 Schools Commissioner Interim measures begin to prepare for full 1 September 2016 implementation Final Implementation of Proposals 1 September 2017

9 Consultation Response Form Please visit http://www.sharnbrook.beds.sch.uk/saf-governance/13589.html and follow the consultation link to tell us what you think of this Proposal. Before responding, you might want to attend one of the consultation events. Alternatively, you may respond using the form below. This is not a vote or a referendum but a chance to make your views known so that the SAF Governing Body can consider them when making their decision. Based on what you have read in this document, and through information gathered at a consultation event please give a response to the following proposal – That Harrold Priory Middle School ceases to be a Middle school and expands its age range, becoming a Primary school offering provision from age 4 (Year R) to age 11 (Year 6). That Margaret Beaufort Middle School also ceases to be a Middle school and expands its age range, becoming a Primary school, offering provision from age 4 (Year R) to age 11 (Year 6)

10 1. Please tell us who you are and where are you from. We intend to analyse responses according to stakeholder group and geographical location however no response will be attributed to any individual in the Consultation Report. So please provide your postcode here:

Consultation response for Middle School

And tick all the boxes that apply in the list below.

Parent of a student currently attending Harrold Priory Middle School

Parent of a student currently attending Margaret Beaufort Middle School Parent of a student currently attending another SAF school. Please tick which school LS / SUS Staff member at Harrold Priory Middle School

Staff member at Margaret Beaufort Middle School Staff member at another SAF school. Please tick which school LS / SUS Governor on the Local Governing Body for Harrold Priory Middle School

Governor on the Local Governing Body for Margaret Beaufort Middle School Governor on the Local Governing Body for another SAF school. Please tick which school LS / SUS Parent of a child in Years R – 4 in a lower school

Governor, including Headteacher, at a lower school

Member of the local community

Parish Council member

Representative of the Local Authority

Representative of a Diocese

Other (please specify):

11 2. We will respect any desire to remain anonymous (no one will be publicly identified in the report on the consultation) but if you are content for us to know your name (or names if this is a joint response), please enter it/them here:

3. If you would like us to send you a copy of the final consultation report, please provide an email address here:

4. Do you agree with the proposal ?

5. Please tell us the reasons for your answer:

6. If you would like to comment on the proposed admissions arrangements, please do so below: Harrold Priory admission arrangements comments:

Margaret Beaufort admission arrangements comments:

The online portal for responses to the Consultation Proposal will be closed at 12pm Friday 8th January 2016 If sending your response by post, please send to: Sharnbrook Academy Federation Consultation Responses Sharnbrook Upper School Odell Road Sharnbrook Beds MK44 1JL Please ensure it arrives by 12pm If you have any questions regarding the completion of this form, please contact [email protected] Thank you for taking the time to respond to our consultation. 12 Harrold Priory Middle School The Green Harrold Bedfordshire MK43 7DE Tel: 01234 720346 Email: [email protected]

Margaret Beaufort Middle School High Street Riseley Bedfordshire MK44 1DR Tel: 01234 708213 Email: [email protected]

Lincroft School Station Road Oakley Bedfordshire MK43 7RE Tel: 01234 822147 Email: [email protected]

Sharnbrook Upper School and Sixth Form Odell Road Sharnbrook Bedfordshire MK44 1JL Tel: 01234 782211 Email: [email protected]