Update 10/10/2020

Following parent discussion, a valid point has been made.

We would like the Secretary of State and the Regional Schools Commissioner to grant us an extension to the process due to the fact that since March, we have been under restrictions that have meant information has not been properly shared, and we have been unable to have meetings with the school governors.

Additionally with Covid, people have had other things on their mind and given the ongoing situation, is it really appropriate for the academisation process to continue, for management of the school to change, when realistically what the school needs more than anything at this time is continuity.

Parents feel that we need to start making bigger noises to those that can actively halt this.

However it is difficult when we are all under the rule of 6 which is working totally In favour of the process at the moment.

As such, the academisation process needs to be halted until such time that parents and governors can come together, to discuss and properly plan the academisation of Steyning Grammar School.

 

We also question the action taken by the Governors to academise Steyning Grammar school did not follow the correct process, as laid down by government.

There is a legal requirement in the academy process for parents to be consulted.

Section 8 of the Education and Adoption Act 2016 states that:

“Before a maintained school in England is converted into an academy, the school’s governing body must consult such persons as they think appropriate about whether the conversion should take place.”

The legislation goes on to state that this consultation can occur before or after an academy order, or an application by the governors for an academy order has been made.

 

The department for Education (DfE) guidance for schools applying to convert voluntarily to academy status states:

“Your governing body must consult formally about your school’s plans to become an academy with anyone who has an interest in your school. This will include staff members and parents, but you should also involve pupils and the wider local community.”

The parents of Steyning Grammar school were supposed to be consulted about the academisation plans and given enough time to   object to the governors decision.

As it stands, we were not.

The deal had already been done and a pathetic attempt to cobble something together was thrown in our direction.

We sign this petition to call on the Governors to withdraw their plans to academise on the 1st of November 2020 and follow the correct due process, which should have happened from the start.

We also ask for the minutes of the governors meetings to be immediately available, which have to be available to the public, staff and parents 

We also request copies of all the minutes for Steyning Grammar school's governing body and Bohunt MAT meetings, especially the ones from the finance committee.

These will show where the school is with regard to any plans, academisation included.

Until this matter is resolved we demand that the academisation process is halted to allow parents to come to an informed decision.

Arguments for and against acaddmisation should be heard from both sides.

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