Governors’ Presentation on Restructuring the Federation The Federation of Burley and Sopley Primary Schools Governors’ Presentation on Restructuring the Federation May 2019

Welcome We know this has been a major decision for our schools and all parents are rightly concerned about impact it may have on their children’s education Brevity doesn’t always work! Our attempt to be brief in our written communication obviously did not answer all of your concerns Hopefully this evening we can cover and share in more detail this “journey” we have been on.

Context – The Harsh Reality Every school is measured on both education and financial performance No school is allowed to run into a deficit In our current state both schools would be in deficit by 2020 If we do not take action now, then we may lose control of what happens next We federated 3 years ago with the aims to save costs Succeeded in being more financially stable than each school would have been over the past 3 years, remained fully staffed, been able to share resources and shared support costs Challenged financially with new apprenticeship levies applied, reduction in income from revised national funding formula, part funding teacher pay rises & general rising costs We have had to take action – and we are not the only school doing so! This has been national headline news.

Context – Possible Consequences Unfortunately, if we do not take action, then someone else will If the schools fall into a deficit then; we could be forced to join a multi-academy trust (not of our choice) Worst case scenario – schools could be forced to close

Costs of Running the Federation 2018/19 Looked hard at these costs Eg; reduced classroom resource costs by a third, HCC to pay for resurfacing etc. Will continue to look at savings but they do not provide the long term savings needed Reluctantly HCC advised that we had to look at these costs for long term savings

Over the last few years……. When we federated the plan was to remain financially stable for 3-5 years However, within the first year we again had to look at future sustainability due to the increase of costs and threat of the new funding formula Over 18 months ago we looked at different options: De-Federation Increasing the federation Looking at joining a local multi-academy trust Exploring other academy opportunities

Whatever scenario, our aim was to protect the teaching of the children Scenarios Considered Whatever scenario, our aim was to protect the teaching of the children Our current model of an Executive Head Teacher supported by Heads of Schools was recommended by HCC at the time we federated. Federation was a relatively new concept. HCC are now learning more about different models and support alternative, most cost effective models

Scenarios Considered Restructuring at the Teacher Assistant Level This is what a number of other schools are doing But, this would impact teaching, play time supervision, First Aid etc. Cost saving would be minimal but have a great impact on the children

Scenarios Considered Returning to two separate Head Teachers at each school Collaboration ceases – loss of shared resources, best practice, expertise, etc. Whilst great teachers, our Current Head of Schools are not Head Teachers. Would require us to change all leadership – this level of change considered too big a risk Would not be any cheaper than our current model if we needed to attract good quality people. Would only provide one layer of leadership i.e. no HoS/EDHT Many schools in Hampshire find recruiting Headteachers for small schools a challenge Possibility that in September we may not have filled any role and therefore left without any leadership

Scenarios Considered Other solutions proposed Presented to Governors during legal process as requested & advised by HCC Although each proposal was costed and considered by the Governors, they were not viable and did not provide financial savings not focused on school improvement strategically not sound short term solutions

Recommended Scenario Restructuring of Leadership by introduction of EHT & EDHT To replace existing HoS’s with a single Executive Deputy Head Teacher The EHT & EDHT would work across both schools going back to the more traditional way of leading schools: clearer direction and clearer definition of accountabilities of roles Non teaching EDHT Reducing daily cost of class cover by not using HoS’s Secures financial stability for both schools in the longer term Governors agreed this would be our strategic course of action with the support of the EHT and HCC

The Restructure Process This has been a strategic decision – not about individuals but about the structure Legal process defined by Hampshire County Council HCC provided advisory service throughout process Governors took advice from Hampshire Governor Services and HCC Union consultation Impacted staff were all engaged and informed throughout All meetings, communications and consultations have been carried out in accordance with HCC’s Procedure for the Management of Restructures and Reductions in School Staff

Leadership Vision (how will this work) The Federation will now have; 1 Executive Head Teacher + 1 Executive Deputy Head Teacher Both will work across each school Regular strategic discussions Both will be more visible Both will be improving the outcomes for children in class EHT & EDHT are non-teaching roles which means more time can be spent on school improvement Dedicated teachers and support staff will remain for all 4 classes in each school (HoS’s teaching days to be replaced) Teaching Assistants in your children’s classes remain unchanged Dedicated SENDCO and SENDCO assistant to work across Federation 2 staff in each administration office

Going Forward….. After no internal applications were received, we externally advertised the EDHT position The recruitment process was robust and involved EHT, Governors and HCC This has resulted in the successful appointment of a EDHT who will start in September We will be announcing the new EDHT after half term

Going Forward….. Can we give you assurances that this will offer long term sustainability and be the last significant change? Unfortunately, no. This decision has been made using the information we currently have and looking at budgets over the next 3-5 years We have no guarantee how much money the schools will receive going forward & it is impossible to predict In 2016 our projected budget for 2020 showed no deficit – however this was not the case in 2017

Our Continuing Challenge Judy Shaw – President of National Association of Headteachers – May 2019 In a speech describing the effects of austerity and accountability on the small West Yorkshire infant and nursery school where she is head teacher, echoes the challenges of all small schools. “If the children and the teachers in a school are confident and successful, that is because the school is led with confidence and courage. But these are challenging, difficult and unsteady times for school leaders” “Those in power say more money than ever is going into our schools. This is misleading and disingenuous. The demands on that money are greater than ever before,”  “Our school is a small school, and as I stare at the figures on the spreadsheets I can feel the threat. To those who say small schools are not viable, I say they are vital. I will do all I can to make sure the school remains at the heart of its community as a supportive and sustaining first point of contact for families”

Closing We understand this seems like a very drastic and radical decision but we believe that, by acting early and making this very difficult decision, we have made the schools more financially secure in the future. Thank you

Appendices Recent media coverage of schools having to cut costs

From a National Audit report: ‘Financial sustainability of schools’, in December 2016: “The Department (for Education) estimates that mainstream schools will have to find savings of £3.0 billion (8.0%) by 2019-20 to counteract cumulative cost pressures, such as pay rises and higher employer contributions to national insurance and the teachers’ pension scheme. It expects that schools will need to make efficiency savings through better procurement (estimated savings of £1.3 billion) and by using their staff more efficiently (the balance of £1.7 billion).”

This is a news article from the Times Educational Supplement of 18 November 2016 ADVERTISEMENT Small community schools will be forced to pay the government’s apprenticeship levy when it comes into effect next year despite assurances that smaller employers would be exempt, it has emerged. The move … comes at a time when schools are facing significant real terms cuts to their budgets.  (A)ccording to Jonathan Simons, head of education at Policy Exchange … small community schools will have to pay the levy... “It is difficult to emphasise quite how messed up this is.” The Department for Education states that it will be the local authority that will pay the levy, but as Mr Simons points out … schools will lose out …

From the BBC News website report in January 2017 Plans to boost apprenticeship funding in England will hit school budgets, with small council schools unfairly affected, say town hall bosses. The LGA (Local Government Association) says the levy will unfairly hit the finances of about 9,000 small community schools, usually primaries... "It is discriminatory," said Richard Watts, chairman of the LGA's Children and Young People Board. "It is no secret that many schools are struggling with their funding, yet once again, council-maintained schools are being dealt a poor hand compared to academies." "Clearly what really matters is making sure that all children get the education they deserve, regardless of school structures." 'Breaking point' The National Association of Head Teachers warned that while 0.5% might not sound like much, "it comes in the context of school budgets being at breaking point already". "It's another example of government policies hurting schools," said NAHT Head of Policy Valentine Mulholland.

• Volatility in pupil numbers • … difficult to manage staff costs. From a March 2019 Department for Education paper on Running small rural primary schools efficiently: (S)chools and trusts … appeared to have good finances and academic performance, they nevertheless reported that funding is tight and that, in some cases, they struggled to overcome financial difficulties. The main funding challenges highlighted by schools and trusts included: • Volatility in pupil numbers • … difficult to manage staff costs. • The cost of providing cover for teachers

From the Guarduan newspaper, March 2015 Headteachers across the country are also telling of intense pressure on every line of their spreadsheets as they grapple with flat funding levels while facing increased national insurance and pension contributions for every member of staff, plus a 1% teachers’ pay rise … The more senior and experienced school staff are, the harder the increased NI, pension contributions and 1% pay rise will hit. In this situation … small schools may find they end up in a downward spiral. … The “per pupil” funding formula for schools announced in 2013 has already hit small schools hard. This year the extra, unfunded, staffing costs have created more problems. Last March Sir David Bell, the DfE’s former chief civil servant, raised eyebrows when he suggested the government could close small schools to save money. Norfolk is one local authority already reviewing the viability of its small schools …. “Local authorities are not going to close a 1,500 student school because it’s too big a target,” he says. “Small schools are more vulnerable. I think some local authorities would see [a deficit] as the final straw.”

From the Independent, March 2019 Funding experts for ASCL (Association of School and College Leaders) have estimated a shortfall of £5.7bn in the amount needed by primary and secondary schools in England in 2019-20 to give every child the education they deserve. Many schools have had to reduce staffing, which means more classes of more than 30 children, less one-to-one support for pupils and cuts to the curriculum …Headteacher Richard Sheriff, president of ASCL, told conference attendees: “On the current trajectory, schools will either have to make more unpalatable cuts to the curriculum and the support they provide to pupils or they will face insolvency. This is not a scenario which is acceptable to anyone – schools, parents, communities or government.” Lisa Hebrard, from campaign group Save our Schools West Midlands, said parents have been sent “begging letters” from heads who have asked them to help pay for school books, pens and glue sticks. She added: “It is the government’s responsibility. How can the schools do it without the money? They are trying their best.”