In light of the positive impact that recent school improvement support from The Creative Learning Partnership Trust has had on Cooper Perry, the governing body has made the considered decision to formally join the Trust.

A consultation will commence on the 23rd of June 2025 and will remain open for four weeks, concluding on the 21st of July 2025. To facilitate this consultation, we will hold meetings at Cooper Perry on the 10th of July 2025, at 3:30 p.m. and again at 5:15 p.m.

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section below for further information. Should you have any additional queries, kindly submit them to mailbox@cooperperry.staffs.sch.uk, and we will ensure they are addressed in the FAQs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Academisation.

What is …

… an academy?

Academies are still state schools, but they’re funded and operated a little differently than maintained schools.

Instead of being funded by the local authority (LA), academy trusts are paid directly by the Education and Skills Funding Agency. This means that academies have more control over how they do things than schools that aren’t academies. Academies don’t charge fees.

… a multi-academy trust?

Academy trusts are not-for-profit companies. They have trustees who are responsible for their performance, in the same way that LA maintained schools have governors.

The trustees are both company directors and charity trustees, and the academy trust employs the school staff.

We’re proposing to join an existing multi-academy trust (MAT). This means that we’ll be part of a community of schools that are governed by 1 board of trustees. Each school in the trust have its own local governing body, with some delegated governance responsibilities for that particular school. The trust employ a team of central staff to support the group of schools and drive school improvement. As part of a trust with multiple schools, our school will have the opportunity to collaborate and share resources with the other schools across the trust.

… the benefit of academisation for our school?

The benefits for our school will include:

• Improved teaching and learning for our pupils, because:
  • Teaching expertise and resources can be shared across the trust
  • There will be more training opportunities for our staff
• Greater freedom in deciding how to spend government funding
• The opportunity to collaborate
  • So, we can have more or better extra-curricular activities, for example
• Greater financial efficiency
  • By procuring goods and services at a larger scale across the trust
  • By sharing staff, including specialist staff who work centrally for the trust, like a school improvement team or pastoral team.

… the reason we’re choosing to join The Creative Learning Partnership Trust

Joining The Creative Learning Partnership Trust presents a strategic opportunity for Cooper Perry. Our leadership team has engaged extensively with the Trust, ensuring that we provide our students with the highest quality educational experiences informed by the latest research. Furthermore, our staff have significantly benefitted from the subject network meetings organised by the Trust, which have facilitated curriculum updates that are both relevant and enriching.

A key factor in this decision is the Trust's firm commitment to maintaining the individual identities of its schools, which we highly value at Cooper Perry, particularly as we celebrate our 150th anniversary. The local focus of the Trust, encompassing schools within Staffordshire, fosters essential collaboration and community spirit, aligning closely with our evolving school values. In light of the challenging educational landscape, we believe that joining the Trust will provide us with invaluable support, flexibility in budget allocation, and a robust framework to meet the diverse needs of our pupils.

On money …

… will the trust or trustees make a profit from the school?

No. Academy trusts are charities, and any surplus or other income must be used to benefit pupils.

… will the trust take any money away from our school?

The trust will receive a top-slice as a percentage of our school’s money known as the general annual grant (GAG). It will form a fund to pay for central services provided to the school by the Trust.

The trust will:

• Carefully consider the funding needs and allocations of each academy
• Provide, Educational, Financial, Operational (Estates, IT, Human Resources, Economies of Scale through procurement), Governance, Continuous professional development support.
• Not top-slice or pool other funding outside of the GAG

When our school is an academy …

… will it still be inspected by Ofsted?

Academies are inspected by Ofsted and are held to the same standards as other state-run schools.

… will it follow the National Curriculum?

Academies don’t have to follow the National Curriculum.

We have worked hard this year to develop our curriculum with support from The Creative Learning Partnership Trust. The curriculum does follow the 2014 National Curriculum.

… will we change our name/logo/uniform?

Our name and logo will remain the same. We have plans to consult parents about our school uniform to ensure that it meets the needs of our children and our developing curriculum,

… will our term times change?

No.  The Creative Learning Partnership Trust follows Staffordshire County Council Term Dates.

… will our catchment area or admissions policy change?

No.  The Creative Learning Partnership Trust follows Staffordshire County Council Admissions Policy, and catchment areas.

How will academisation affect …

… our pupils?

Parents, carers, and pupils may not immediately perceive significant changes in the day-to-day operations. The partnership will allow for more autonomy in investment for educational resources, promote collaboration among schools, and provide access to research-based improvements. These initiatives aim to elevate the overall quality of education, ultimately improving outcomes for all students. As a result, children will have greater opportunities for academic success and personal development, laying a strong foundation for their future success.…

our provision for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)?

Academisation will strengthen our provision for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) by ensuring compliance with the SEND Code of Practice, which applies to all state schools. This commitment to inclusion remains paramount. Additionally, our multi-academy trust includes a specialist setting, whose expertise will significantly enhance our ability to support students with SEND, facilitating the effective implementation of tailored strategies and resources.

… our school staff?

Upon receiving an academy order, Staffordshire County Council will initiate the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) process. This legally safeguards staff employment rights as they transition to new employment under the academy framework, ensuring continuity of service and protection of terms and conditions.