Section 1: the Predecessorschool (If Applicable)

ACADEMY ACTION PLAN FOR A

SPONSOREDSECONDARYACADEMY

Project summary information
Academy name: Carter Community School
Local Authority: Borough of Poole
Sponsor(s): United Learning
Opening date: 1st April 2013
Proposed size of Academy: Secondary – capacity 480
Age range: 12-16

Section 1: The PredecessorSchool (if applicable):

1.1 Background:

School Name: / Carter Community School
School Address: / Blandford Close
Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset
BH15 4BQ
Type of establishment:
e.g. FoundationSchool / Community School
Co-Educational / x / Single Sex Boys / Single Sex Girls / Age range: / 12-16
Current specialism(s) if applicable):
Is this a designated faith school? / Yes / No / x
If yes – is this
withor without
faith admissions? / Which faith?
Pupils on roll
(3-11) / Pupils on roll
(11-16) / 353 / Pupils on roll
(16-19) / School capacity / 480
1.2 Educational attainment:
National Average data refers to all maintained schools in England / GCSE 5+ A*-C / GCSE 5+ A*-C inc. English and maths
2009 / 2010 / 2011 / 2012 / 2009 / 2010 / 2011 / 2012
National Average / 69.8
70.0 / 75
76.3 / 79.5
80.7 / 82.7* / 50.7
50.9 / 54
55.3 / 58.2
58.4 / 58.4*
LA Average / 69 / 68 / 75 / 80 / 56 / 55 / 57 / 58
School –use provisional data where necessary / 51 / 43 / 64 / 81 / 34 / 23 / 21 / 48
Key stage 2 to 4 Progress Measures
Percentage of pupils making expected progress:
English
(National Median 72%) / 71% / Maths
(National Median 65%) / 58%

1.3 Key data

Exclusions in 2011/12 / Exclusions to date 2012/13 / Attendance
2011/12 % / Attendance
2012/13 to date %
Fixed term / Permanent / Fixed term / Permanent / Poole 95.1%
Carter 91.9% / No data
Poole 730
Carter 68 / Poole 13
Carter 3 / Poole 82
Carter 7 / Poole 3
Carter 0 / Persistent absence %
(based on 80% attendance) / Persistent absence % (based on 85% attendance)
Poole *
Carter 7.1% / Poole *
Carter 13.8%
2011/12 Admissions / 2012/13 Admissions
Year group / NOR(Oct 11**) / Admission no. / Year group / NOR (Oct 12) / Admission no.
Y7 / Y7
Y8 / 85 / 120 / Y8 / 86 / 120
Y9 / 70 / 120 / Y9 / 88 / 120
Y10 / 100 / 120 / Y10 / 72 / 120
Y11 / 82 / 120 / Y11 / 108 / 120
Y12 / Y12
Y13
TOTAL
Context 2011***
% FSM / % EAL / % of pupils with SEN or on School Action Plus
National / 15.9 / 12.3 / 8.5
LA / 7.8 / 3.5 / 9.9
School / 27.3 / 4.1 / 17.1

Notes: *GCSE – the given national figures appear incorrect. The ones in red are the ones on the SFR.

**Admissions data from October census for each academic year

*** Context data for school taken from their RAISE online report and from census data forthe LA

1.4Key challenges

Summary of the key challenges posed by the predecessor school that the sponsor will need to address in the first year of opening (to be provided by DfE)

1. To ensure a culture of high expectations and accountability for learners’ outcomes is fully shared by all teachers and middle managers.
2. To secure good rates of progress and high standards for the pupils currently in the school, so that the rising trajectory of results seen in 2012 continues and the school remains well above the floor standards.
3. To further develop the creative and performing arts as a vehicle for both cultural enrichment and the raising of aspiration, self-esteem of pupils and the quality of teaching across the school.
4. To use the new academy links, alongside existing local partnerships , to ensure that teachers of all foundation subjects receive robust CPD and are fully conversant with current best practice in their subjects, so that inconsistency of outcome between subjects is substantially reduced.
5. To work intensively in partnership with ‘feeder’ schools locally to raise standards of literacy and numeracy and improve progression in the core subjects, especially in Years 5 to 8.
6. To bear down on both persistent absence and the use of exclusion by improving the attitude to education of a small minority of pupils and families.
7. To use the academy Trust to further strengthen the expertise and effectiveness of the governance of the school, while retaining the strengths of local knowledge, engagement and commitment currently evident.
8. To continue to enhance the profile of the school and its premises in the local community by developing existing adult education and extra- curricular activities for pupils and families, in conjunction with the LA, alongside the broader marketing of the school’s offer to secure good pupil recruitment.

1.5Finance

Does the predecessor school currently have a budget deficit? / Yes
No / x
Will there be a deficit at the point of closure? / Yes
No / x
If yes, please provide details:
The LA should note that any deficit budget remaining at the point of school closure wouldnot transfer to the Academy. If an Academy Order is used the surplus at the point of school closure would transfer to the Academy.

Section 2: The Proposed Academy

2.1Sponsor

Name of lead sponsor:
Name of co-sponsor/s:
Governance arrangements i.e. composition of the trustee board and the governing body:

2.2Academy Population

Please provide details on the proposed number of pupils (both as a total figure, and broken down into the following age ranges: 3-11, 11-16 and 16-19), whether the Academy will be single sex (and if so, whether for girls or boys) or co-educational, and whether it would have a faith designation. Please provide a detailed justification for the size and age range of the proposed Academy.

Total on roll: 347
Aged 12-16:347
Capacity of 500
Net capacity: 480
PAN of 120 in each year group
Moving to 11-16, Sept 2013
Estimate on roll: 336 based on current patterns (officer forecasts are higher based on current school improvement)
Capacity of 600
Net capacity to be estimated following buildings works as part of the age of Transfer expected to be 600
PAN of 120 in each year group
Co-Educational
No Faith
Proposed opening date for the Academy: / 1st April 2013

2.3Nursery Provision

Is there a nursery on the school’s premises or site? / Yes / x
No
If yes, please confirm who currently runs the nursery, what arrangements/agreements exist in relation to this, who is expected to operate the nursery when the Academy opens, and under what arrangements/agreements.
Neighbourhood Nursery, Co-operative child care – Conditions on the grant require the facility to be maintained until 2013. Lease to 2023

2.4Consultation

Please confirmthe method of consultation and school closure to be carried out during thedevelopment stage:

‘A’

Local authority to carry out statutory school closure consultation and sponsor to consult on Academy proposals. / Yes / NA
or
‘B’ (Also refer to section 4.3)
Governing body of predecessor school intends to use the Academy Order route and carry out consultation on Academy proposals: / Yes / x

Please complete in all cases:

We confirm that all parties (sponsors, local authority, and, if appropriate, governing body) have agreed to the chosen method of consultation. / Agreed / x

2.5School Improvement Statement

Please provide a description for the proposed Academy. This should be no more than one page long and should include reference to how the proposed Academy would contribute to improving standards, especially teaching and learning. You should outline how you will address the priority issues for improvement set out in section 1.4.

UL

Section 3: Academy Site and Buildings

3.1 General information

The Academy would be located at the following address:
Blandford Close
Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset
BH15 4BQ
When were the building(s) constructed? (Please give details for each building, if applicable) / Year(s):
1946
Are any of the buildings built or being built under a PFI contract? / Yes (give details): / No
x
What is the approximate size of the site to be transferred to the Academy Trust? / 5.1215 hectares
If thereare current or planned building work at the school, please provide details, confirm
how this will be funded, and to what extent, if any this funding will be affected by becoming an Academy:
LA – Change in the age of transfer, - £350k (approved budget)
Unaffected. LA will require the agreement of the Trust and sponsors that it will be able to continue to manage this project
LA – Priority 1 works related to roof, (statement of costs to be agreed and budget to be approved)
If the budget is approved by Council as part of the Capital Strategy in February 2013 then the LA will require the agreement of the Trust and sponsors that it will be able to continue to manage this project or come to another arrangement.
Does the proposed Academy have access to playing fields of a sufficient size to deliver its proposed vision and curriculum? / Yes / x
No
N/A
If not, please explain how the PE curriculum would be delivered:
Please attach a copy of the ordnance survey map with
the boundaries of the Academy site clearly marked. / Attached: / See Appendix B Redline map
Does the LA hold all of the land occupied by the school and which the Academy will continue to occupy? / Yes / x
No
If the LA holds the land please confirm that a standard 125 year lease will be entered into in relation to the land held by the land / Agreed: / Agreed by the LA
Is any of the land currently occupied by the school not held by the LA? / Yes
No / x
If the land is not held by the LA, please explain who holds the land and what legal arrangements will be made to ensure that the land can be used by the Academy Trust after the Academy opens:
If the site is owned by the LA, does it intend to seek permission to dispose of any part of it? / Yes
No / No
N/A
If yes, please provide details and confirm that you would abide by PfS guidelines regarding
Contributions to the capital cost of the Academy project.

3.2 Shared Use of Site

Does the school have any shared use arrangements in relation to land or premises? / Yes / x
No
If yes, please provide details of what arrangements/agreements are currently in place and what agreements will be in place when the Academy opens?
See Appendix C and Table to Appendix D: summarised here as

• EYFS setting: Neighbourhood Nursery Co-operative childcare
• Police
• Adult Learning licensee
• Pitch Invasion
• Library (shared parking)
• Steppin out dance school

3.3Leisure Facilities

Is there any leisure facilities used by the wider community on the school’s premises or operated run/by the school? / Yes / x
No
If yes, please provide details, what arrangements/agreements are currently in place and what agreements are planned to be in place when the Academy opens
See attached list of lets table to Appendix D and Appendix C

3.4Children’s Centres

Is there a children’s centre on the school’s premises or operated/run by the school? / Yes
No / x
Note:
The Children’s Centre and its external play requirements are retained by the Local authority to meet its duties.

Section 4: Agreements

4.1Local Authority Agreement

(Name of senior official at the Local Authority with overall responsibility for liaison on this Academy project)
Name in full / John Nash
Position: / Schools Projects Director
Address and contact number: / Poole Borough Council
Civic Centre
Poole
BH15 2RU
01202 633202

Does the LA agree to all aspects of this proposal? (If no, please supply details). / Yes / x
No
Does the LA confirm that it would bringforward proposals for the closure
of any predecessor schools if that is the chosen method of closure
(see section 2.2) / Yes / Not applicable
No / Not applicable

Please note that by agreeing to the section below, the LA is accepting legally binding obligations.

Does the LA confirm that:
(a) if the Academy opens, it will indemnify the trust established to operate the Academy ("the Academy Trust") in respect of all costs and liabilities which transfer to the Academy Trust under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 and which relate to the period prior to the date when the Academy opens, including without limitation the costs arising out of any equal pay claims relating to that period;
(b) subject to (d) below, it will be solely responsible for all costs and liabilities, including without limitation any notice, severance, redundancy or associated pension costs, which arise in connection with or as a result of any restructuring carried out by the LA, the Governing Body or the Academy Trust which relates to:
• the Academy inheriting staff from more than one school;
• the Academy operating on fewer sites than the predecessor school(s);
• the Academy offering fewer places than the predecessor school(s);
• the predecessor school(s) being overstaffed; and/or
• the predecessor school(s) running at a deficit.
(c) subject to (d) below, it will be responsible for 50% of any notice, severance, redundancy or associated pension costs reasonably incurred by the Academy Trust or in relation to the opening of the Academy in the period preceding the date on which the Academy opens and which do not fall within (b) above.
(d) The LA and the Academy Trust shall co-operate in planning and effecting any restructuring or redundancy referred to in (b) and (c) above and the Academy Trust shall consult the LA in relation to any proposed redundancy and restructuring.
In consideration of the above promises, the Department agrees to be responsible for the balance of 50% of the costs referred to in (c) above.
The LA hereby confirms that it is bound by these indemnities and that the Academy Trust will be entitled to enforce them against the LA as a matter of contract. / Not agreed

Please note that the Local Authority is willing and able to co-operate in discussions about staffing structures at the school prior to and post the transition date of 1st April 2012. However, discussion as to costs will only be considered on a case by case basis.

The maintaining authority has a responsibility to ensure that any health and safety issues in the predecessor school are addressed before the land transfer takes place and the Academy opens.
Does the maintaining authority confirm that it will complete all outstanding health and safety work before the Academy opens? / Yes / X
No
If no, please provide details:

4.2 Governing Body and Foundation/Diocese Agreement

If the Academy Order route applies, (section 2.2 refers) a member of the Governing Body of the school must sign this section to apply for an Academy Order:
Has the governing body passed a resolution confirming its agreement to become a SponsoredAcademy? / Yes / x
No
Please attach a copy of the minutes from the governing body meeting confirming this agreement. / Attached:
We, the Governing Body, of [insert school name] apply to the Secretary of State for Education for an Academy Order to become an Academy.
Signed by: / Name:
Phil Sands
Position held: / Head of Governors / Date:
Address:
If the school is a voluntary or foundation school with a foundation, has the governing body consulted the foundation and/or the diocese about the application to become an Academy? / Yes
No
If yes, do the trustees of the school and the person (or persons) who appoint the foundation governors consent to this application to become an Academy? / Yes
No
Please attach a letter or a copy of the minutes of the meeting (as appropriate) to confirm the consent of the trustees of the school and those who appoint the foundation governors. / Attached

4.3Miscellaneous

In order to support the pre-opening delivery of Academy and FreeSchools projects, the Department has established a Framework following an open competition. The Framework provides a pool of suppliers who compete against each other to deliver services to individual projects. The services are provided under two Lots - Lot 1 for Project Management services and Lot 2 for Educational Services. These arrangements provide quick and easy access to support for projects in compliance with government procurement regulations and avoid lengthy competition processes. The suppliers appointed have been selected on the basis of their expertise and commitment to deliver a quality service. Please confirm that all parties are content for pre-opening support to be provided through the DfE Framework.
Agreed
If not:
Alternative arrangements may be agreed with those Academy Trusts who can demonstrate that their employeeshave the capacity and experience to deliver or procure the services themselves. These arrangements must be agreed in discussion with the Project Lead who will require assurance that the arrangements are compliant with government procurement regulations and the Department's policyto maintain nofinancial gaininAcademy sponsorship.
Yes, the Academy Trust would like to be considered:

4.4Signatory details

(Additional signature details may be inserted as necessary)

We fully support all aspects of this Academy Action Plan and agree to use it as a basis for the future development of this Academy project.

Signature:
(For and on behalf of the lead sponsor)
Name in full:
Position:
Address and contact number:
Date:
Signature:
(For and on behalf of the co-sponsor)
Name in full:
Position:
Address and contact number:
Date:

We fully support the intentions of this Academy Action Plan and agree to use it as a basis for the future development of this Academy project not withstanding that we cannot take on obligations as in section 4.1.

Signature
(For and on behalf of the local authority)
Name in full / Jan Thurgood
Position: / Strategic Director, People Theme
Address and contact number: / Poole Borough Council
Civic Centre
Poole
BH15 2RU
01202 633202

Date:

1

Academy Action Plan Secondary September 2012