S4E Limited Is a Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England & Wales No. 07739831

S4E Limited is a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales No. 07739831

Staff NewsletterMarch 2013

Dear colleagues

It is now some months since I wrote to you to update you on the situation regarding our move into the new company, S4E Ltd.. I’m sorry to report that, whilst there has been considerable progress in many areas, it has been painfully slow in others. A lack of progress made even more frustrating by the fact that we are totally reliant on others, either the Council or the pension funds, in moving things forward.

I know that the key thing which concerns people is the security of their pensions. For those in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), approximately 115 people, I am able to report some pleasing developments. Our understanding is that the TPS are happy to admit us, that your years of continuous service will remain intact, and that the scheme will be “open” in the future. I.e. new appointees to S4E Ltd. will be able to join the scheme if they wish. The TPS require a bond of £155k which our bankers have secured. Once this bond is formally in place we will make our application to be admitted. Our application will need to be approved by the Secretary of State, although we are assured this is a formality.

For those in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), around 20 people, the process has been more tortuous, and for many months the LGPS did not engage with our solicitors at all. Thankfully, in the new year there have been some more positive developments. The LGPS have required three confirmations to be given in order to enable them to admit us:

a)That the Council act as Guarantor of historic pension liabilities. We have been told that the Council accept this responsibility but await their formal confirmation.

b)That a bond of £233k be put in place. The Council have covered this requirement.

c)That the Council confirm that there is a “community of interest” between itself and S4E Ltd.. Once again, we understand that the Council is willing to give this confirmation but they have not yet provided a written assurance that this is the case.

Once these confirmations have been provided we understand that the LGPS will admit us, and that years of continuous service will remain intact. Unlike the TPS the LGPS have stated that the scheme will be “closed”. I.e. that any new appointees to S4E Ltd. will not be eligible to join the scheme.

There is a third and growing group of staff, who are not part of the transfer from the Council but who have been appointed to the staff of S4E directly. The company will need to provide a pension scheme for these, and other, new appointments. Discussions are in hand with a range of providers to identify a scheme which protects the interests of individuals but which is also affordable to the company. We anticipate having identified a provider by the end of April, and will be planning briefing sessions for staff during May.

Other matters upon which S4E await action from the Council are:

• The Business Transfer Agreement – this sets out exactly which assets; (musical instruments, computers, office furniture etc.), will transfer from BCC to S4E. Cabinet have agreed that everything will transfer but this needs to be formalised.
• The Insurance Claim – The replacement value of the equipment lost in the Portland fire amounts to £460k. We await details from the Council as to how they propose to manage this claim.
• The Loan – Cabinet agreed to provide a loan of up to £1m at a commercial rate of interest to help us manage our start-up costs and initial cash flow. We await from the Council the precise details of this loan, its conditions, and the formal agreement which enables us to draw it down.

Of course it would be inappropriate and too risky to transfer the employment of staff from the City Council to S4E until all these matters have been satisfactorily concluded. In the meantime S4E continues to trade independently from the Council, whilst the great bulk of its staff remain employees of the Council. This is clearly an unsatisfactory and unsettling half-way house for the company and its employees to be in. Every possible pressure is being exerted on the Council to urge them to bring these matters to a prompt conclusion. The delays are both frustrating and inexplicable.

Now we can turn to more positive matters:

Governance

The Board of Directors is now at full complement and consists of:

Martin Chitty(Chair) – Senior Partner : Wragge & Co.

Jackie Hughes – CoE Diocesan Director of Education

Elaine Kenny – Head Teacher, Swanshurst School

Sally Taylor – Service Director : Children’s’ Services, Birmingham City Council

Eric Williams – Partner, National Head of Private Client for Grant Thornton UK LLP

Professor Mick Waters – Research Associate : University of Wolverhampton

Finance

The company is forecasting a modest surplus at the end of this financial year (31/08/2013). The last report to the Board forecast a surplus of around £85k. The February forecast is likely to be considerably higher.

HR

We are delighted to welcome as S4E’s first employees:

Alex Leeming – September 2012

Sue Rose – September 2012

Sarah Marshall – November 2012

Mark Lanni – December 2012

Sue Collin – January 2013

Michael Abraham – March 2013

Amritpal Kaur – March 2013

Mark Mynard – March 2013

Tina Nandra – as from April 2013

Sadly we say goodbye to Kim Wheeler (Learning & Assessment Service) who leaves us to become Assistant Head Teacher at Selly Park Girls’ School. We will miss her but congratulate her on her new appointment and wish her well for her future career.

ICT

All staff working for S4E will be given their own S4E email address which will have the format . These addresses will be rolled out over the next few weeks. Over time they will become the key route via which the company communicates with its employees.

The company has a temporary website which can be viewed at . Over the coming months we will be working to revamp the site and add an e-commerce facility.

New Opportunities

Already the company is growing to take on new services. We are working closely with the City Council’s Education Psychology Service to support them in increasing their capacity to deliver their statutory functions in schools. In addition, Mark Mynard has joined us to explore the potential for S4E to become involved in the provision of ICT services to schools.

There are three posts based within the Learning & Assessment Service which will shortly be advertised nationally through The Guardian Online, but also through various other regional and local routes. Needless to say, internal candidates are most welcome to apply. Jayne Bennion would welcome informal conversations with anyone who might wish to consider applying. The full advert can be found at:

Good News from the Services

Learning & Assessment Service – Jayne Bennion

• We are delighted to be on the point of strengthening the team with 3 new appointments;
• We are delighted to have successfully completed the EYFS Profile training ( well done Serena);
• We are delighted to be in discussions with two of the newly designated teaching alliances in the city to develop partnership working;
• The work on Pupil Premium has been very well received by Sally Taylor and the Primary School Improvement Group.

Health Education Service – Martin Donovan

• Health for Life in secondary school have recruited their first cohort of six schools who have started out on the three year programme.
• Health for Life / Be Healthy Primary schools awards day were held in the Council House earlier this year with over twenty schools achieving a high standard satisfactory to achieve the award
• Andrew Cooper has been invited to be a member of the National Committee for NICE guidance for PSHE

Music Service – John Clemson

• We have just completed another tremendous series of Area Ensemble Gala Concerts. 45 ensembles performed over five nights at the Adrian Boult Hall.
• Arrangements have just been completed for our very first Ukulele Festival - Monday July 15th at the Adrian Boult Hall
• The annual series of St. George’s Day festivals has been completed with Mere Green Combined School moving forward to perform at the main concert in Symphony Hall

Forthcoming Events

Learning & Assessment – Jayne Bennion

• Assessment frenzy re Y6 tests and KS1 and KS2 moderation
• A sad farewell to Kim - who leaves us to join Selly Park Girls School as an Assistant Head Teacher. We are so very sorry to see Kim go, but wish her the very best in her new role.
• Pupil Premium booking are on the rise and we have a number of sessions planned with Governing Bodies
• Our preparations for the Primary Leadership Conference that is held in October are underway and the flyer will be sent to all Primary schools early next term.

Health Education Service – Martin Donovan

• The HES welcomes the governments announcements on a variety of serious issues that impact on the work of Services for Education:

• DfE Citizenship - will remain as a foundation subject within the National Curriculum, this will allow us to continue our work in supporting our schools to deliver quality teaching and learning in this area
• DfE Working Together to Safeguard Children - updated guidance for all agencies that helps to clarify and support our work in this area
• DH – Sexual Health Guidance - this should have an impact on the teaching of RSE in schools highlighting its importance in the curriculum
• We are delighted that we have been approached by several schools in our neighbouring authorities to support them in the development of Quality Relationship and Sex education.

Music Service Concert Season Summer Term 2013

Date / Time / Venue / Featuring
Saturday 11th May / 3:00pm / Adrian Boult Hall / Birmingham Schools’ Wind Orchestra
Birmingham Schools’ Brass Band
Birmingham Schools’ Concert Orchestra
Saturday 18th May / 7:30pm / Adrian Boult Hall / Birmingham Schools’ Symphony Orchestra
España – Chabrier
Piano Concerto No 1 – Liszt
Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz
Monday 8th July / 7:00pm / Adrian Boult Hall / Birmingham Schools’ Training Brass Band
Birmingham Schools’ Guitar Sinfonia
Birmingham Schools’ Flute Choir
Birmingham Schools’ Brass Ensemble
Birmingham Schools’ Percussion Ensemble
Birmingham Schools’ Concert Band
Tuesday 9th July / 7:00pm / Adrian Boult Hall / Battle of the Bands Competition Winner
Birmingham Schools’ Junior String Orchestra
Birmingham Schools’ Recorder Ensemble
CBSO Young Voices
Birmingham Schools’ Training Guitar Ensemble
Birmingham Schools’ Wind Orchestra
Wednesday 10th July / 7:00pm / Symphony Hall / Birmingham Schools’ Primary Choir
Birmingham Schools’ Training Percussion Ensemble
Birmingham Schools’ Jazz Ensemble
Birmingham Schools’ Brass Band
Birmingham Schools’ Concert Orchestra
Thursday 11th July / 7:00pm / Symphony Hall / Birmingham Schools’ Primary Choir
Birmingham Schools’ Recorder Sinfonia
Birmingham Schools’ Steel Pans
Birmingham Schools’ Concert Brass Band
Birmingham Schools’ Symphony Orchestra
Friday 12th July / 7:00pm / Adrian Boult Hall / Birmingham Schools’ String Sinfonia
Birmingham Schools’ Music Theatre Choir
Birmingham Schools’ Training Jazz Ensemble
Azaad Dhol
Birmingham Schools’ Guitar Ensemble
Birmingham Schools’ Training Wind Orchestra

Other Information

Name / Department / Internal Extension / Direct Line / Mobile Extension / Mobile Number
David / Perkins / S4E / 3002 / 01213669923 / 6002 / 07968136616
Alex / Leeming / S4E / 3001 / 01213669925 / 6001 / 07968118463
Denise / Sullivan / Administration / 3024 / 01213669932
Ann / Harverson / Administration / 3023 / 01213669931
Reception / Administration / 3017 / 01213669926
Sue / Rose / Admin/Finance / 3020 / 01213669929
Mary / Edmonds / Finance / 3018 / 01213669927
Sharon / Roche / Finance / 3022 / 01213669930
Sarah / Marshall / Projects / 3009 / 01213669913 / 6009 / 07827325660
Marie / Hyatt / Projects / 3019 / 01213669928
Martin / Donovan / Health / 3105 / 01213669879 / 6105 / 07980672878
Tony / Ayres / Health / 3100 / 01213669874 / 6100 / 07766924758
Liz / Bates / Health / 3101 / 01213669875 / 6101 / 07919293619
Kathy / Bird / Health / 3102 / 01213669876 / 6102 / 07980673224
Andrew / Cooper / Health / 3103 / 01213669877 / 6103 / 07766924763
Niall / Crawford / Health / 3104 / 01213669878 / 6104 / 07766924760
Lana / Gaskin / Health / 3106 / 01213669880 / 6106 / 07920576780
Sandra / Passmore / Health / 3107 / 01213669881 / 6107 / 07766924759
Jayne / Bennion / LAS / 3003 / 01213669922 / 6003 / 07766922268
Simone / Whitehouse / LAS / 3006 / 01213669910 / 6006 / 07766923940
Serena / Caine / LAS / 3008 / 01213669912 / 6008 / 07775024731
Denise / Harris / LAS / 3007 / 01213669921 / 6007 / 07766923204
Kim / Wheeler / LAS / 3005 / 01213669924 / 6005 / 07825052204
John / Clemson / Music / 3004 / 01213669911 / 6004 / 07818510668
Cormac / Loane / Music / 3010 / 01213669914 / 6010 / 07917172374
Sally / Hobbs / Music / 3011 / 01213669915 / 6011 / 07917172377
Ciaran / O'Donnell / Music / 3012 / 01213669916 / 6012 / 07917172381
Martin / Orgill / Music / 3013 / 01213669917 / 6013 / 07917172379
Ruth / Roberts / Music / 3014 / 01213669918 / 6014 / 07917172376
Harjit / Singh / Music / 3015 / 01213669919 / 6015 / 07917172378
Nicola / Walker / Music / 3016 / 01213669920 / 6016 / 07917172380
Stuart / Birnie / Music / 3039 / 01213669888 / 6039 / 07500125362
Heather / Clemson / Music / 3040 / 01213669889 / 6040 / 07500125363
Claire / Hollocks / Music / 3041 / 01213669890 / 6041 / 07500125365