Consultation to Convert to Academy Status

As I am sure you are aware, schools are increasing working together in an effort to improve outcomes for pupils, respond to budgetary challenges and provide much needed services for the children entrusted to our care.

For the past four years the Diocesan Education Service has been working closely with the Diocesan Academies Partnership Committee and Bishop Richard, in order to develop a coherent model of Catholic Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) across the Diocese consisting of two cross-phase Catholic MATs.  Xavier Catholic Education Trust was formed in September 2016 to serve Catholic schools in Surrey and Bosco Catholic Education Trust was formed in April 2017, to serve Catholic schools in Sussex.  The aim is to cement and to develop relationships between schools, facilitate collaboration, provide services which may previously have been lost through funding constraints and to continue to raise standards.

After careful consideration and preliminary discussion with the Diocese, the Governing Body of St Richard’s Catholic Primary School has decided that they wish to explore conversion to Academy status and join Bosco Catholic Education Trust.

• provide additional opportunities to share resources and facilities, developing a collaborative way of working and ‘joined-up’ provision for the benefit of all of our pupils and families;
• secure additional finance to invest in resources for our pupils and schools by providing access to funding that now no longer goes to the Local Authorities;
• enable member schools to respond more effectively to the budget pressures all schools are facing by securing economies of scale whilst retaining individual school autonomy;
• reduce the impact of any future reduction in LA services by developing our own capacity to meet the needs of our pupils or commissioning our own specialist support services – for example, to support pupils with SEN. As an example, Bosco CET employ their own Educational Psychologist and Speech and Language Therapist.

What are the benefits to the community?

By working together collaboratively, the schools will be better placed to support the work of the parishes within Sussex. The development of the CET will also give strength to the Catholic voice and viewpoint within local communities and the education sector. By supporting each other in the promotion of gospel values we will develop a future generation that demonstrates these values in their everyday lives.

What are the disadvantages of conversion?

Greater freedoms do bring additional responsibilities including statutory duties as an academy trust company, but the school is confident that, with the support of Bosco CET, we can manage these.

Will any changes to the School be made as a result of conversion?

We do not intend to make any changes to the school as a result of the conversion, apart from taking advantage of the opportunities outlined above to work more closely with other schools in the CET. Please be assured that the Catholic character, ethos and values of the school would remain unchanged, should the Academy conversion take place. Indeed, we anticipate that this opportunity to work even more closely together within a supportive Catholic Education Trust would further strengthen and support the ethos and traditions of St Richard’s.

How to take part in the consultation process

At this stage, we are not committing St Richard’s to conversion to Academy status. We are consulting with everyone associated with our school before Governors meet again to make a final decision. We would like to know what you think of our plans and are inviting you to take part in this consultation.

Key Dates - 

10th November 2023 - Consultation process communicated to key stakeholders

28th November 2023 at 6.00pm - Consultation meeting at St Richard's 

2nd January 2023 - Consultation window closes