Andy Street 8 Greenfield Crescent Edgbaston Birmingham B15 3BE Dear Mr Street Re: Ninestiles Academy Trust and The Sixth Form College Solihull I am writing to advise you that a consultation is currently underway on proposals regarding Ninestiles Academy Trust and The Sixth Form College Solihull. The consultation programme is being undertaken by Clarke Associates UK Ltd, an independent communications company, on behalf of Ninestiles Academy Trust and The Sixth Form College Solihull. The College plans to convert to an academy under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, which would see it dissolve and transfer its property, rights and liabilities to Ninestiles Academy Trust. The College proposes to join the Trust in August 2017, creating a pioneering ‘all-through’ Multi- Academy Trust - the first of its kind in the country. The Trust and College began talks to merge in early 2015, while a Government review of Further Education provision for Birmingham and Solihull later the same year recommended the College converts to an academy and joins the Trust. Following extensive financial and legal due diligence, the Boards of both the College and Trust voted in December 2016 in favour of pursuing the merger and submitted formal applications to the Department for Education. The aim is to create a Trust which will boost both the aspirations and attainment of those living in the communities they serve, and to offer young people and their families access to the best possible education from age 3 to 19. The Trust would create new career development opportunities for existing staff, while helping to attract the best educational practitioners in the country. The merger would allow the Trust to continue to grow and prosper, making it more financially stable and robust in order for it to run effective services despite economically challenging times facing the education sector. The new Trust will have the scale, resources and profile to initiate significant new developments and partnerships with regional employers and Higher Education establishments, leveraging a further set of opportunities for young people. The consultation ends on March 20th and all views expressed will be collated and shared with the Boards of both the College and the Trust. These views will help the Boards to reach a decision as to whether to continue with plans for the College to convert to an academy and join the Trust. A final decision will be made by the Secretary of State for Education. A community consultation meeting is due to be held at The Shirley Centre, 274 Stratford Road, Shirley, B90 3AD, between 5pm and 7pm on March 9th, providing an opportunity to ask questions and share views. For more information about the consultation visit www.ca-education.co.uk To take part in the consultation complete the online survey at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/merger- consultation/ Alternatively, you can have your say by emailing [email protected] or calling 0121 702 2525. I send with this correspondence a copy of the public notice regarding this consultation, which has appeared in the Birmingham Mail, Solihull News and the Daily Telegraph. Yours faithfully, David Clarke Managing Director Clarke Associates UK Limited Encs 17 February 2017 Anthea McIntyre MEP The Chapel Wythall Estate Walford Ross on Wye HR9 5SD Dear Ms McIntyre Re: Ninestiles Academy Trust and The Sixth Form College Solihull I am writing to advise you that a consultation is currently underway on proposals regarding Ninestiles Academy Trust and The Sixth Form College Solihull. The consultation programme is being undertaken by Clarke Associates UK Ltd, an independent communications company, on behalf of Ninestiles Academy Trust and The Sixth Form College Solihull. The College plans to convert to an academy under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, which would see it dissolve and transfer its property, rights and liabilities to Ninestiles Academy Trust. The College proposes to join the Trust in August 2017, creating a pioneering ‘all-through’ Multi- Academy Trust - the first of its kind in the country. The Trust and College began talks to merge in early 2015, while a Government review of Further Education provision for Birmingham and Solihull later the same year recommended the College converts to an academy and joins the Trust. Following extensive financial and legal due diligence, the Boards of both the College and Trust voted in December 2016 in favour of pursuing the merger and submitted formal applications to the Department for Education. The aim is to create a Trust which will boost both the aspirations and attainment of those living in the communities they serve, and to offer young people and their families access to the best possible education from age 3 to 19. The Trust would create new career development opportunities for existing staff, while helping to attract the best educational practitioners in the country. The merger would allow the Trust to continue to grow and prosper, making it more financially stable and robust in order for it to run effective services despite economically challenging times facing the education sector. The new Trust will have the scale, resources and profile to initiate significant new developments and partnerships with regional employers and Higher Education establishments, leveraging a further set of opportunities for young people. The consultation ends on March 20th and all views expressed will be collated and shared with the Boards of both the College and the Trust. These views will help the Boards to reach a decision as to whether to continue with plans for the College to convert to an academy and join the Trust. A final decision will be made by the Secretary of State for Education. A community consultation meeting is due to be held at The Shirley Centre, 274 Stratford Road, Shirley, B90 3AD, between 5pm and 7pm on March 9th, providing an opportunity to ask questions and share views. For more information about the consultation visit www.ca-education.co.uk To take part in the consultation complete the online survey at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/merger- consultation/ Alternatively, you can have your say by emailing [email protected] or calling 0121 702 2525. I send with this correspondence a copy of the public notice regarding this consultation, which has appeared in the Birmingham Mail, Solihull News and the Daily Telegraph. Yours faithfully, David Clarke Managing Director Clarke Associates UK Limited Encs Beverley Nielsen Birmingham City University City North Campus Birmingham B42 2SU Dear Ms Nielsen Re: Ninestiles Academy Trust and The Sixth Form College Solihull I am writing to advise you that a consultation is currently underway on proposals regarding Ninestiles Academy Trust and The Sixth Form College Solihull. The consultation programme is being undertaken by Clarke Associates UK Ltd, an independent communications company, on behalf of Ninestiles Academy Trust and The Sixth Form College Solihull. The College plans to convert to an academy under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, which would see it dissolve and transfer its property, rights and liabilities to Ninestiles Academy Trust. The College proposes to join the Trust in August 2017, creating a pioneering ‘all-through’ Multi- Academy Trust - the first of its kind in the country. The Trust and College began talks to merge in early 2015, while a Government review of Further Education provision for Birmingham and Solihull later the same year recommended the College converts to an academy and joins the Trust. Following extensive financial and legal due diligence, the Boards of both the College and Trust voted in December 2016 in favour of pursuing the merger and submitted formal applications to the Department for Education. The aim is to create a Trust which will boost both the aspirations and attainment of those living in the communities they serve, and to offer young people and their families access to the best possible education from age 3 to 19. The Trust would create new career development opportunities for existing staff, while helping to attract the best educational practitioners in the country. The merger would allow the Trust to continue to grow and prosper, making it more financially stable and robust in order for it to run effective services despite economically challenging times facing the education sector. The new Trust will have the scale, resources and profile to initiate significant new developments and partnerships with regional employers and Higher Education establishments, leveraging a further set of opportunities for young people. The consultation ends on March 20th and all views expressed will be collated and shared with the Boards of both the College and the Trust. These views will help the Boards to reach a decision as to whether to continue with plans for the College to convert to an academy and join the Trust. A final decision will be made by the Secretary of State for Education. A community consultation meeting is due to be held at The Shirley Centre, 274 Stratford Road, Shirley, B90 3AD, between 5pm and 7pm on March 9th, providing an opportunity to ask questions and share views. For more information about the consultation visit www.ca-education.co.uk To take part in the consultation complete the online survey at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/merger- consultation/ Alternatively, you can have your say by emailing [email protected] or calling 0121 702 2525. I send with this correspondence a copy of the public notice regarding this consultation, which has appeared in the Birmingham Mail, Solihull News and the Daily Telegraph. Yours faithfully, David Clarke Managing Director Clarke Associates UK Limited Encs 17 February 2017 Bill Etheridge MEP 2 High Holborn Dudley DY3 1SR Dear Mr Etheridge Re: Ninestiles Academy Trust and The Sixth Form College Solihull I am writing to advise you that a consultation is currently underway on proposals regarding Ninestiles Academy Trust and The Sixth Form College Solihull.