1. Embrace Multi-Academy Trust Learning for Life

2. What is an Academy
A state maintained school which is free to all children.
Separate from the local authority and has an agreement with Government to provide funding directly to the Academy.
Follows the same rules as all other state-funded schools in respect of admissions, pupils with Special Educational Needs and exclusions.
Has increased freedom to make changes e.g. age range change, term dates.

3. What is a Multi-Academy Trust?
A company established to be responsible for a number of Academies.
Each Academy remains as a separate school, with its own Local Governing Body
The Board of Directors for the MAT are accountable for the performance of all schools.
Funding for the MAT is generated by a top-slice from each school, alongside the potential for government grants.
Committees are established to be accountable for finance and educational standards.
Individuals may be appointed with leadership responsibility across the MAT.
Academies within the MAT may share services and/or members of staff.

4. Why Form a Multi-Academy Trust?
Autonomy “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Abraham Lincoln
National and local scene around MATs.
Accountability
School improvement work across the MAT. Support for other schools entering the MAT.
Austerity
Potential for economies of scale and shared services/members of staff. Potential for condition improvement and expansion bids.

5. The Current Educational Landscape
36% secondary schools in a MAT
18% primary schools in a MAT
69% of all secondary schools are academies
23% of all primary schools are academies
Academies are not all the same -‘sponsored’ or ‘converter’; ‘stand- alone’ or in MATs

6. Who is involved in Embrace?
Arnesby Primary School
Brockington College
Croft Primary School
Huncote Primary School
Manorfield Primary School, Stoney Stanton
St Peters’ Primary School, Whetstone
Sherrier Primary School, Lutterworth

7. Vision and Ethos
The vision and ethos of each separate academy will remain the responsibility of the local governing body.
The primary purpose of Embrace is to support high educational outcomes across all learners in all academies.
The name of Embrace has been chosen because of our desire to support and protect each academy.
Through collaboration, Embrace will seek to free up Head teachers and teachers to focus on educational improvement.
Securing funding and using it in the most effective way will be a priority for the MAT leadership.

8. Advantages of Embrace
Range of schools across 2 – 16 age range, primary/secondary, Church of England/non-Church of England schools.
School improvement work at the heart of our vision “We want to be freed up to work with the children.”
Close working partnerships within a local context.
Autonomy remaining with the local governing body.
Autonomy remaining with Headteachers.
Like-minded schools and leaders.
Achievement of savings and sharing of services.
“Grow with us rather than change to be like us.”

9. Our Structure Members Trustees
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Local Governing Bodies
Headteachers
Primary School Improvement Lead
Secondary School Improvement Lead

10. Our Unique Schemes of Delegation
Three distinct schemes of delegation
Embracer: Capacity to support other schools in given areas
Embraceable: Receives support from others in given areas
Embraced: Receives support from others in all areas
Categories reviewed at least annually

11. Due Diligence
Collection of school level information via a questionnaire
Follow-up questionnaire based upon initial answers
Interview of Chair of Governors and a second governor
Interview of Headteacher and Business Manager
Further enquiry as required

12. Where are we in the process of MAT conversion?
Due diligence interviews completed with all schools
Local governing bodies have all passed resolutions to consult
Consultation letters issued to stakeholders W/B Monday 6/11/17
Presentations to stakeholders W/B 13/11/17 and 20/11/17
Consultation closes 8/12/17
Local Governing Bodies meet to consider passing resolution to enter into MAT: early January 2018
Application made to form MAT: February 2018
Pre-opening work of Strategy Group is ongoing
Approval granted and MAT commences work: 1/9/18

13. Questions?