DIOCESE OF ELY EDUCATION

SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT

2016/17

Background information

The Diocesan Board of Education is equally obligated to all Church schools and aims to provide a service, which is tailored to each school’s needs and the changing educational environment in which schools operate. The support is delivered by a team of experienced officers, consultants and serving school leaders who bring extensive expertise and experience in school improvement, curriculum support, support for religious education and collective worship, premises, project management, governance and financial support. We continue to develop and strengthened the team in order to expand the services we offer in response to the changing national landscape.

These agreements do not reflect the actual costs incurred by the Diocese in providing these services to schools, but represent a contribution and commitment to the support provided to schools in the Diocese. This year, we are again offering a core service and an enhanced service to give schools more choice and to reflect the increasing support that we can now offer schools in relation to school improvement.

Scope

This prospectus sets out the two Service Level Agreements for 2016/17

The Core Service Level Agreement is for all maintained VA & VC Church of England Schools within the Diocese of Ely. Key elements are support for school improvement, religious education, collective worship and support for headteacher appointments.

The Buildings Service Level Agreement is particularly important for Voluntary Aided schools but Voluntary Controlled schools can also subscribe. The Diocese offers a range of support to help schools maintain and improve the property they use for education, including sourcing government and other funding for projects.

All charges are stated net of VAT, which is chargeable at the standard rate of tax current at the time (20.0% at April 2015)

This agreement is for 12 months from 1st April 2016 to 31st March 2017.

You will be invoiced for the service levels you signed up for last year based on the latest pupil roll details we have. Should you require any change to this, please contact us.

Please direct any enquiries about this form to:

Cathy Priestley, Schools Administrator,

Diocesan Office, Barton Road, Ely, Cambs. CB7 4DX

Phone 01353 652724 email

Core Service Level Agreement

All schools participating in the Core Service Level Agreement are entitled to the following subsidised services for school effectiveness:

Adviser support
  • A named Ely Diocesan Regional Adviser (EDRA) who will visit three times per year – half a day per term and work with the school to signpost support and draw upon additional specialist help where needed.
  • Telephone advice and support on school improvement and other issues
  • Input and support during an Ofsted inspection and attendance at feedback (Ofsted inspection or an HMI monitoring visit)
  • Support with planning and delivering school improvement activities
  • Support for religious education and collective worship at least once every three years to ensure that the school meets statutory requirements.

Headteacher appointments
  • Assistance with the planning, shortlisting, interviewing and appointing new headteachers.

Governor support and training
  • Telephone and email support
  • Advice on appointing foundation governors
  • Attendance at governors’ meetings on request
  • Briefing on the statutory inspection of Anglican and Methodist schools
  • Access to free places on any training events provided by the Diocese.

2016 White Paper (including May revisions)
  • Briefing on national policy changes and Diocesan meetings with local and national DfE leaders.
  • Creating a 5 year ‘road-map’ for the school and setting up a diocesan local school collaborative.
  • Considering academy options and planning for a new future.

Resources
  • Information bulletins and updates by email for headteacher and governors.
  • Briefing papers on national policy changes.

Core service agreement costs

Size of school / Annual cost
Up to 50 pupils / £350
51-100 / £400
101-150 / £450
151-250 / £500
251 pupils or more / £550
351 or more pupils / £600

Enhanced support packages

In addition to the core services, the following enhanced pre-booked support packages are offered at reduced rate.

Additional in school support days for example / Cost per day / Overall cost
  • Performance data review
  • Ofsted preparation
  • One-to-one headship support
  • Headteacher support
  • Headteacher and staff performance management
  • Specific in-school training
  • Additional RE/collective worship advice
  • Governor support
  • Support staff training
  • Foundation Stage support
  • New National Curriculum support and advice
  • Lesson observation moderation
  • Assessment moderation
  • Pupil premium reviews
  • Whole school learning reviews
Subject leader support
Termly subject specific workshop run by specialist consultants in English, Maths, DSEN and EYFS
Additional adviser time costs per day including ‘termly health checks’
  • Three visits including planning and follow up (pre-booked)
  • Six visits including planning and follow up (pre-booked)
  • Single day visits including planning and follow-up (not pre-booked at the beginning of the year)
/ £450 per day
£400 for each additional day
One subject = £200
Two subjects = £375
Three subjects = £500
Four subjects = £600
£450
£450
£500 / £1290
£2550
£450

The following packages offered are also available with costs subject to negotiation at the time of booking:

  • an external review of governance
  • an external review of leadership and management
  • external review of teaching and learning
  • an annual health check
  • website development
  • support with developing an online Diocese parent, staff and pupil voice system

Please contact Rachel Beeson, Deputy Director of Education for School Effectiveness for further details.

Buildings’ Service Level Agreement

The following buildings’ support services package is available to VA and VC schools by subscription:

Buildings, Premises and Land

Guidance to Head Teachers and Governors

  • New buildings – from inception to bid preparation, funding discussions and project management;
  • Existing premises – providing guidance, including site visits, on adapting and developing existing buildings and external areas;
  • Provide guidance on the preparation of school asset management plans including condition and suitability;
  • Provide advice on the sources of funding available for building projects;
  • Guidance on the application of DfE building guidelines and school premises regulations;
  • Assist, where appropriate in liaison with professional property consultants on school sponsored projects;
  • Provide advice on appropriate consultants and contractors, including project and property management (maintenance & repairs)services; Provide a professional view on projects being proposed an/or developed by Local Authorities or Government Agencies;
  • Provide guidance on trust and property issues, including use by third parties;

VA Schools only - additional Buildings, Premises and Land Services

DfE Devolved Formula Capital (DFC)

  • Banking of Devolved Formula Capital (DFC)
  • DFC project payments
  • Pooling arrangement whereby up to two years’ DFC can be spent in advance
  • Annual assurance return

DfE LCVAP Funding

  • Funding advice, and bids for LCVAP funding including negotiation with local authorities.

Size of School Annual Charge

Under 50 pupils£550

51-100£595

101-150£650

151-250£695

251-350£750

351 or more pupils £795

Secondary schools on application

Legal advice

Our DBE Solicitors Lee Bolton Monier-Williams and Howard Dellar, Registrar, are available to advise on legal issues in connection with your school. Please contact Julie Robinson-Judd on 01353 652722 for further details.

Additional Services to Schools

Work associated with capital projects, where funding and all other approvals are in place to proceed, are non-core services.

The Diocese manages the funding, expenditure, checks and pays interim and final payments on the Works and associate professional fees, and liaises with the funding agencies and prepares reports etc. as required by them for payments and audit purposes.

The Diocese also liaises with schools and their project managers to discuss tender process, selection of suitable contractors, contractual requirements, programme, and appointment of contractors when the tenders are returned.

During the project, the Diocese will attend project site meetings; discuss variations with the project team including management of risk and expenditure of project contingencies.

Post contract, the Diocese will liaise with the project manager to discuss any aspects relating to the final account, defects, operating and maintenance documentation etc.

In addition, we will provide guidance to the school in relation to the capital project during the works phase and meet with the Head Teacher and Governors as required.

On all capital projects which commence on site during financial year 2015-16, a fee of 1% will be levied on all works over £2,000 for non-core services.

On all future capital projects, fees will be charged at the following rates:

Value (excluding professional fees and VAT) / Lump sum/% fee
Up to £30,000 / £650
£30,000.01 - £75,000 / 2%
£75,000.00 – to EU Threshold / 1.5%
Above EU Threshold / 1%

Fees are inclusive of any travel costs, subsistence and disbursements.

Transfer of Control Agreement (TOCA)

Schools governing bodies can enter into a Transfer of Control Agreement (TOCA) as way of sharing school premises with another body, or transferring control to it. A TOCA is an agreement between the Governors and the 3rd party, and may only be entered into, with the express permission of the Diocese.

Where a request is made to the Diocese for legal advice in relation to the TOCA, or for legal services in drafting a TOCA, all legal charges associated therewith shall be reimbursed by the school Governors.

Disputes

If a dispute arises in connection with capital building projects, or building defect, the Diocese will seek reimbursement of £30/hour or £325/day for each and every day exceeding one full working day.

Service Charter

Schools participating in the Service agreement are entitled to expect the Ely Diocesan Board of Education to:

  • provide professional and expert information, advice and assistance in the areas listed
  • deliver the services listed upon request to a high professional standard
  • respond promptly and courteously to requests for assistance
  • act with discretion, integrity and safeguard confidentiality
  • be responsive to the needs of individual schools and their distinctive ethos
  • understand the roles and responsibilities of governors of Church of England schools and academies
  • represent the interests of Church of England schools with partner local authorities and national bodies
  • direct all subscription income from the agreement to the support and development of the Diocesan Schools Service.

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