Agenda item

(Report by Director – Operations)

(1)     This report informed Members of the Advisory Board of the current situation regarding Trust Status, and recommended a process for responding to and the reporting of those proposals.

(2)     Dr Craig said that the original status of “Foundation School” was set out in the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998.  Foundations Schools, like Aided Schools employed their own staff and held their own buildings and land “in trust” from the Local Authority.  Currently, there were 57 Foundations schools in Kent (13 primary and 44 secondary), and 91 Aided schools (78 primary and 13 secondary).  Although the Government was not requiring all schools to become “Foundation”, they are being strongly encouraged.  This encouragement sits logically alongside the Government’s (and Kent’s) views that local authorities should divest themselves of much of their day to day operational responsibilities and become more strategic.  The DCSF had instituted a “fast track” process, which involved a governing body consulting on a proposal for a minimum four week period.  They are required to consult with the host local authority as part of that process, and at the end of the consultation period the governing body can decide whether to publish a Public Notice in accordance with the required legal regulations.  Unless there are very good reasons not to do so, the change of status would be agreed by the DCSF.

(3)     A number of Kent schools are currently considering foundation status, and more are likely to do so.  Two schools, Maidstone Grammar and Broomhill Bank have undertaken consultations which required responses from the local authority.  In consultation with the Cabinet Member, the County Council had not submitted any objections.  Dr Craig said in general the consultation period did not usually allow to prepare and bring a paper to the Advisory Board for a view on whether to object.

(4)     Mr Vye spoke about the admission arrangements currently relating to Maidstone Grammar School, and said generally, at the end of the day, everyone would be dependent on the decisions taken by the adjudicator.   What would therefore be significant would be the consistency of those decisions.  Mr Northey referred to Recommendation 3(2) and recommended that the local Member should be included in those to be consulted.  This was agreed.  Mrs Angell said, and it was agreed that a list be prepared of those schools currently considering foundation status and for this to be reported to an appropriate meeting of the Advisory Board.  Mr Bristow referred to Recommendation 3(1) and asked that after the word “contrary” in line 1, the words “the presumption will be”, be added.  This was agreed.

(5)     The Advisory Board agreed that:-

(i)        unless there are very good reasons to the contrary, the presumption will be the local authority will not oppose any governing body wishing to move to Foundation or Trust status;

(ii)       the Director (Operations) will consult with the Cabinet Member and appropriate Local County Member(s) before responding to a consultation on Foundation of Trust status;

(iii)      responses will be reported to the next available meeting of the School Organisation Advisory Board.

(iv)      a list of those school currently considering a move to Foundation status would be report as appropriate to a future meeting of the Board.