Report for consideration after consultation on proposal to federate the governing bodies of St Joseph’s Catholic Infant and St Joseph’s Catholic Junior Schools from 1 January 2021
This report summarises the views of the persons consulted on the proposal to federate St Joseph’s Catholic Infant and St Joseph’s Catholic Junior Schools.
Purpose of report
To assist the Governing Bodies to carry out the statutory function of making the decision with regard to the federation of N St Joseph’s Catholic Infant and St Joseph’s Catholic Junior Schools and future school organisation proposals.
Recommendation
The Governing Bodies of St Joseph’s Catholic Infant and St Joseph’s Catholic Junior Schools are recommended to make one of the following decisions:
- From 1 January 2021 to for a Federated governing body for the two schools
- St Joseph’s Catholic Infant and St Joseph’s Catholic Junior Schools continue to have its own Governing Body and will not be formally federated.
Consultation process
A statutory consultation has taken place which consisted of several different stages:
- The publication of a consultation document setting out the proposal;
- Open meetings for parents/carers/staff/community members to ask questions and seek further information on the proposal;
- Each individual Governing Body makes their decision on the proposal;
- Implementation of the decision.
Who was consulted?
The following groups were consulted:
The Governing Body of each school in the proposed federation;
Parents, carers, staff and pupils who may be affected by the proposal;
Waltham Forest Admissions Forum;
Neighbouring schools and Councils that may have an interest.
Secretary of State
Meetings
Meetings were held both virtually and in person at the Junior School for parents and the local community and staff. Individuals were able to get more information on the proposal. Consultation documents were widely available from both school offices and via the school websites.
Responses
A total of 53 valid responses were received (47 for, 0 against and 6 were neither for nor against the proposal). A total of six blank, signed consultation response forms were received, these forms will be counted as casting a neither vote.
| Total number of responses received | 53 |
| Void votes | 0 |
| In support of the proposal | 47 |
| Support the proposal with modifications as the GB considers appropriate | 0 |
| Opposed to the proposal, total number | 0 |
| (Opposed to the proposal, Families represented) | |
| Neither in support nor opposed to the proposal | 6 |
A summary of the comments provided are given in Appendix 1, attached.
No alternative proposals were submitted.
A summary of the key issues raised during the consultation meetings can be viewed in Appendix 2, attached.
Breakdown of response providers
| Parents/
Carers |
Staff | Pupils | Local Residents | Other (Ex Pupil) | Unknown | |
| Void response | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| In support of the proposal | 38 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Support the proposal with modifications as the GB considers appropriate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Opposed to the proposal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Neither in support nor opposed to the proposal | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Signed on behalf of Governor Services
…………Donna Miller……………………………………………
Date……30/11/2020…………………………………………….
APPENDIX 1
Summary of comments received
Positive comments received
| Summary comments | Responses |
| Good idea | 42 |
| Agree in principle | 1 |
| Other comments: | |
| Federation is a positive move for the schools. | 35 |
| Appointment of Executive/ headteacher is crucial | 3 |
| School strategic directions aligned | 8 |
| Federation will raise school standards | 6 |
| Improved transition /consistency from Infants to Juniors | 6 |
| Shared resources | 2 |
| Beneficial for the children | 4 |
Other comments received
| Summary comments | Responses |
| Comments re consultation procedure | 0 |
| Comments re communication/involvement with parents | 0 |
APPENDIX 2
Summary of issues raised in the consultation document during the consultation meetings:
The consultation meetings enabled parents, staff and members of the community to ask questions pertinent to their thoughts.
Below are extracts from the consultation meetings held:
4/11/2020 8:00
A parent asked about standards at the school. She understood the infant school had a higher Ofsted ranking, and she asked whether parents could have an assurance the level in the junior school would be similar to that at the infant school. NB responded that there would be one governing board and one head teacher, and it would be up to them to ensure the standards across both schools were the same.
4/11/2020 16:30
A parent asked for more information about the increase in staff governors. DM explained that the instrument was imposed by the DfE but what the working party had done was create a place for an additional staff governor that could be appointed by the board. The other would be elected by staff.
4/11/2020 19:00
Parents asked how the head teacher would split their time between the two schools and how accessible they would be? NB responded that in essence, although two separate schools, as a federation the schools would have the capacity of a primary. Governors were aware of other schools operating on split sites and know it works with the right senior leaders in post. It was something the governing board would work through to ensure the staffing was adequate and that the head teacher was accessible across both schools.
