1. EPJS AND ACADEMY STATUS: TAKING CHARGE OF OUR OWN DESTINY

2. Since September 2012, EPJS governors have:-
EPJS AND ACADEMY STATUS: TAKING CHARGE OF OUR OWN DESTINY
Since September 2012, EPJS governors have:-
Researched what academy status is and what it means
Kept abreast of the ever-changing political landscape
Talked to other schools and academies
Attended various meetings
Discussed with local schools
Explored in detail what joining a specific academy would
be like
Carefully considered what may be best for EPJS
Kept the children and EPJS at the heart of all our
discussions
NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE
We would like to share our
thoughts with you

3. EPJS AND ACADEMY STATUS: TAKING CHARGE OF OUR OWN DESTINY
WHAT ARE ACADEMIES?
Academies are state-funded schools which are directly funded by the Department for Education (DFE)
and are independent of local
authority control.

4. EPJS AND ACADEMY STATUS: TAKING CHARGE OF OUR OWN DESTINY
TYPES OF ACADEMIES
Free Schools independent, free from local authority control set up by teachers, parents, existing schools, educational charities, etc
Traditional academies usually underperforming existing schools which are allocated to an academy sponsor who will take them over.
Academy converters usually high performing schools already in existence, who opt out of Local Authority control to gain independence and autonomy.

5. EPJS AND ACADEMY STATUS: TAKING CHARGE OF OUR OWN DESTINY
MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
A multi-academy trust
( often referred to as a MAT)
is when two or more academies (schools) join together.

6. EPJS AND ACADEMY STATUS: TAKING CHARGE OF OUR OWN DESTINY
EPJS has decided:-
We should not believe everything we read
in the press!
Becoming an academy may be in the best
interests of EPJS
An informed decision is important
We want to be able to wear pink socks!
We want to be in charge of our own
destiny – to choose what to do
To keep parents informed
It is vital that we do what is best for our
children, staff, parents and community

7. EPJS AND ACADEMY STATUS: TAKING CHARGE OF OUR OWN DESTINY
WHY BECOME AN ACADEMY ?
Improve the educational experience for the
children
Flexibilities over spending
Economies of scale , sharing of resources
Opportunities for staff
Greater collaboration
Effective school to school support
Political pressures
Decreasing Support from the Local Authority

8. EPJS AND ACADEMY STATUS: TAKING CHARGE OF OUR OWN DESTINY
FINDING THE RIGHT MAT
We want a trust that :-
Supports EPJS achieve its vision
Helps EPJS to improve and offer more to children, staff and
parents
Provides robust ‘back office services’
Ensures we are financially secure and offer value for money
Supports, enthuses and challenges all staff
Collaborates at a high level
Enables EPJS to keep its own identity, values and ethos - enhance
rather than change
Has similar aims, values and ethos – puts children first
Is not too large
Will encourage us to maintain our existing links with local schools
Will Work WITH us
A trust we can believe in and contribute to.

9. EPJS AND ACADEMY STATUS: TAKING CHARGE OF OUR OWN DESTINY
SCHOOLSWORKS
What we like …
Local
Easily accessible
Experienced heads
Known people who we respect
Putting children first
Similar experiences
Robust back office services
A good size
Shared sense of aims, values and ethos
They want to learn from and work with us!

10. EPJS AND ACADEMY STATUS: TAKING CHARGE OF OUR OWN DESTINY
Coffee break!
TIME TO TALK!
Good points
Reservations
Questions

11. EPJS AND ACADEMY STATUS: TAKING CHARGE OF OUR OWN DESTINY
SCHOOLSWORKS

12. EPJS AND ACADEMY STATUS: TAKING CHARGE OF OUR OWN DESTINY
NEXT STEPS:-
Associate Membership
Continue to involve parents and all stakeholders
Keep local schools informed
Register an interest
Governors to make a decision in the Autumn Term 2016

13. EPJS AND ACADEMY STATUS: TAKING CHARGE OF OUR OWN DESTINY
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?
Please write your thoughts on post-its and do come and talk to us – share your views – it is an important decision to make TOGETHER
Thank you for attending