KIRK SANDALL INFANT SCHOOL

Statutory proposal to change to foundation school status and acquire a charitable trust

As set out in the School Organisation(Prescribed Alterations to

Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2007

The Governing Body of Kirk Sandall Infant School  is putting forward this Statutory Proposal to change to foundation school status and acquire a charitable trust called the Brighter Futures Learning Partnership.

Date : 4th march, 2010

School Details

Kirk Sandall Infant School

Queen Mary Crescent

Kirk Sandall

Doncaster

South Yorkshire

DN3 1JT

Website:    www.ksinfantschool.co.uk

Telephone:  01302 882221

Fax :          01302 890756

Email:        admin@ksinfantschool.co.uk

Category of school : Community School

Performance data and a copy of the latest OFSTED report can be found in appendix(1)

In this Proposal, reference to the school is to Kirk Sandall Infant School and reference to the Governors, the Governing Body or the Governing Body of the school is to the Governing Body of Kirk Sandall Infant School.

Planned Implementation

It is planned that the new Brighter Futures Learning Partnership Trust will be established on the 1st September, 2010.  The School would change category to foundation school and acquire the Trust on that date.

Objections or comments

Any objections or comments upon this statutory proposal to change school category and acquire the Brighter Futures Learning Partnership Trust should be made in writing and sent to the Governing Body marked “Statutory Proposals”.  The postal address and the email address are as given in the school details above.

The first date of publication of the Statutory Notice will be 4th March, 2010. The start date for the representation period is 4th March, 2010 with the deadline for all objections and comments upon this statutory proposal being within four weeks of its publication.

Consultation

The following were sent details of the proposals during the initial consultation period which began on the 28 September, 2009 and ended on the 3rd November, 2009.

• All staff – teaching and associate staff currently employed at the School.
• All parents and carers of the pupils currently on role at the School.
• Governors.
• The Local Education Authority.
• Teacher Unions.
• Trade Unions representing associate staff.
• Other schools in the area.

• Specialist Schools & Academies Trust.
• Doncaster Primary Health Care Trust.
• The Sheffield Diocesan Board of Education.

Meetings were held with the following groups of stakeholders :

• Potential Trust Partners.
• School staff.
• Parents.
• Union representatives.
• School Governors.

Minutes of these meetings can be found at appendix (9)

Those consulted were invited to consider the proposals and to respond either

verbally or in writing by the 3rd November, 2009. Stakeholders were also able to       e. mail the school

Following consultation, stakeholders were provided with feedback in the form of a document which summarised the responses and provided answers to frequently asked questions. A summary of the views expressed is available from the school office

A copy of the original consultation document and questionnaire is attached at appendix (3/4)Throughout the consultation period the consultation document was made available from the School

A full analysis of the feedback can be found in Appendix (5) together with a copy of the consultation document and questionnaire issued to stakeholders.  

The Governors of the School considered the responses from the consultation at a meeting on the 11.11.09. at Kirk Sandall Infant School. After taking into account the results of consideration, the Governors decided to proceed to the publication of the formal notice and Statutory Proposal.

Copies of the minutes of the relevant Governing Body meeting where the decision to move to Statutory Proposals was discussed are shown in Appendix (8)].

The Governors have followed and complied with all aspects of applicable statutory guidance in relation to consultation over these proposals and have consulted at all stages as and when appropriate.

 Alteration Description

The prescribed alteration comprises the School changing to foundation school status and acquiring a charitable trust.

The new Trust will be called the Brighter Futures Learning Partnership Trust, being a foundation established otherwise than under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. As a new charitable company the Trust does not currently act as a foundation for any foundation or voluntary schools.

Rationale

The vision of the Trust is to create a School Partnership that will raise attainment in the local community and in doing so will increase the life chances of all young people in the area served by the schools. The Trust will build upon and extend the good practice that already exists amongst our pyramid of schools and the Sure Start Children’s Centre (The BEAK) that is co-located on the site of Kirk Sandall Infant School. The Trust will also bring together a wide range of partners which focuses on bringing their skills, expertise and experience to support the direction of the school.

This means that we would like the Trust ;

• to create a school partnership that will raise attainment in the local community and in doing so will increase the life chances of all young people in the area served by the schools. 

• to build upon and extend the good practice that already exists amongst our pyramid of schools and the Sure Start Children’s Centre (The BEAK) that is co-located on the site of Kirk Sandall Infant School.

• to provide a first class education for all young people in our local community.

• to address barriers to learning through partnership and multi-agency working.

• to contribute to community cohesion by helping to deliver improved children’s services and addressing the five outcomes of the ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda.

• to strengthen specialist provision in science, mathematics and ICT.

The proposed members of the Trust are :

• Barnby Dun Primary School.

• Dunsville Primary School.

• Hungerhill School, a Specialist Centre for Science, Mathematics and Computing.

• Kirk Sandall Infant School and Sure Start Children’s Centre (The BEAK).

• Kirk Sandall Junior School.

• The Sheffield Diocesan Board of Education under the auspices of the Sheffield Diocesan Board of Finance ( as the foundation for Canon Popham Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School ).

The proposed partners of the Trust are:

• John Leggott College, Scunthorpe.

• Doncaster Rovers Football Club.

• Doncaster Primary Care Trust.

• Doncaster Local Authority.

All of the above have agreed to be named in the statutory proposals.

The proposed first Trustees of the Trust will be:

• up to three representatives from Barnby Dun Primary School, including the Headteacher.

• up to three representatives from Dunsville Primary School, including the Headteacher.

• up to three representatives from Hungerhill School, a Specialist Centre for Science, mathematics and Computing, including the Headteacher.

• up to three representatives from Kirk Sandall Infant School and Sure Start Children’s Centre (BEAK), including the Headteacher of Kirk Sandall Infant School.

• up to three representatives from Kirk Sandall Junior School, including the Headteacher.

• up to three representatives from the The Sheffield Diocesan Board of Education under the auspices of the Sheffield Diocesan Board of Finance ( as the foundation for Canon Popham Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School ), including the Headteacher of Canon Popham Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School.

• One representative nominated by John Leggott College, Scunthorpe.

• One representative nominated by Doncaster Rovers Football Club.

• One representative nominated by Doncaster Primary Care Trust.

• One representative nominated by Doncaster Local Authority.

Each member will be entitled to appoint up to three trustees; each partner will be entitled to nominate one trustee.  The individual Trustees will be named on implementation.  Each trustee will have one vote on Board resolutions. The Trust will, in future, be able to add to its external partners and membership if agreed by the Trustees and if the newly elected partner(s)/member(s) adhere to the objectives of the Trust.

The Trust will be legally established as a company limited by guarantee with Companies House and registered with the Charity Commission. The Charity Commission will regulate its activities (as with all charities).

The Trust will meet the requirements of Trusts as set out under section 23a of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998 and the School Organisation (Requirements as to Foundations) (England) Regulations 2007.

Trustees will not be able to derive an income from the Trust. Any income obtained by the Trust has to be used in accordance with its charitable objectives.

The Trustees will meet a minimum of three times a year (alongside contributing to school governance as required).The Trustees will be nominated by the Trust members and partner organisations and checked by the governing body to ensure that they comply with DCSF legislation. This screening will include a CRB check. The Chair of the Trust will be elected by the Trustees from amongst the Trustees.

The Trust and the Governing Body will work in partnership to achieve the strategic objectives (Charitable Objects).

The charitable objectives of the Trust are:

• to advance the education of the pupils of any School or at any other school in respect to which the Charity acts or has acted as a foundation; it being acknowledged that in carrying out this object the Trust must (where applicable) have regard to its obligation to promote community cohesion under the Education Acts.

• to advance and enhance the development and education of people of all ages and without distinction of race, nationality, gender, sexuality, disability or of political, religious or other opinions.

• to advance the health and welfare of people and their families and to assist in enabling access to education and recreational and leisure facilities ; and

• to provide assistance to the charitable objects of any school which objects are not state funded.

The constitution of the Governing Body of the School will continue to provide for up to 9 Governors. The Trust will appoint a minority of Governors which will be a minimum of 2 Trust appointed governors (up to a maximum of 45% of the Governing Body).  There will be no change to the number of parent governors (3). Which Trust Governors will be appointed to the Governing Body will be decided on implementation 

The Governing Body of the School will gain new powers and responsibilities. It will become the employer of all staff and existing pay and condition arrangements will be maintained as the school will remain in the maintained sector and will honour national and local pay and condition agreements. The Governing Body will also become responsible for student admissions but will continue to be bound by the School Admissions Code. The Governing Body will have day to day control over the school premises. The land and buildings will transfer to the Trust to be held in Trust for the duration of its relationship with the school.

All staff, both teaching and support staff, will retain their current terms and conditions when they transfer to the employment of the Governing Body. The school will set out the terms and conditions for new support staff and these will be in line with all current local agreements and will honour existing pension arrangements. On transfer staff will therefore enjoy the same terms and conditions of employment as in any maintained state school.

The School will continue to teach the National Curriculum and will be inspected by Ofsted at appropriate times.

The School will work in collaboration with the Local Authority in ensuring strict adherence to the National Code of Practice for Admissions within the local context.

The local authority and the Governing Body will make a new instrument of governance for the School to reflect its new status.

Raising Standards

The purpose of considering Trust status is to improve standards at the School, raise aspirations and contribute to the general well being of all pupils.  Trust Status will enhance the already strong links we have with each of our pyramid schools and connect us to a wider breadth of expertise.

Trust status and working with the Trust partners will enable strategic planning to deliver the objectives of the learning partnership and provide greater access to a wider range of opportunities for all pupils.  Trust status will deliver a wider range of higher quality services for pupils, staff and the community.  

Trust status will also increase the diversity of provision within the Doncaster area by creating a unique structure aimed at raising standards and opening new curriculum opportunities for young people within a 0-19 vision. Furthermore, the Trust will be part of a wider authority vision to increase diversity through BSF, which includes a range of Trust Schools, academies, faith schools and community schools.

Community Cohesion

 By working towards the aims of the Trust the governors will enhance the role of the school at the heart of the community. Opportunities for young people in the community will be widened and increased by working effectively with other educational establishments and partners. Through this, the Trust will contribute to the further development of community cohesion. 

The Governing Body of the School believe that obtaining Trust Status is an opportunity to move the partnership schools forward in transforming education for all within our community.