Corbridge Middle School Governors response to the Hadrian Learning Trust Consultation
Name: Corbridge Middle School Governing Body
Postcode: NE45 5HX
Are you responding mainly as: On behalf of Corbridge Middle School governing body
Your views on Proposal One
Do you agree that Hexham Middle School and Queen Elizabeth High School should be amalgamated and expand to create an 11-18 Secondary school? NO
If you wish, please give the reasons for the answer you have given above.
We do not agree that creating an 11-18 secondary school is the only option or the best way to meet your three objectives. In summary we strongly believe that this age range change would have a detrimental impact on our students, families and communities. We urge you to listen and to work with the schools in the Hexham Partnership to ensure that all the schools continue to go from strength to strength. We would refer you to the ‘Making significant changes to an open academy - Departmental advice for all types of academy trust’ document which states:
Where proposals are likely to have a significant impact on other local provision a full business case will usually be required to provide evidence that the education of children in the area, as a whole, will not be compromised. Where local provision is organised in three tiers and the aim is to move to two tier age range, the department expects schools to work together to ensure an appropriate coordinated implementation, and will only approve any individual proposal in that context.
This response has been formulated following discussion with our own stakeholders; our pupils, parents, feeder schools, parish council, other schools from the Hexham and Haydon Bridge partnerships and via our “I have a dream” online survey where 133 stakeholders have responded:
We would ask that you also take into account our responses to your previous consultations to:
1. EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND EXPERIENCE
The results of Queen Elizabeth High School shows you are:
The results at Hexham Middle School are:
Impact on the wider partnership
Your consultation document states that the impact on the other schools would be that they became primary. Your unilateral decision outside of the NCC consultation to change your age range would have a significant impact on other schools within the partnership and their communities including the potential closure of Corbridge Middle School. From responses we have received, we know that this would be overwhelmingly unpopular with our parents, staff and wider community.
The reasons why we are saying NO:
No evidence how educational outcomes would improve in an 11-18 school
No information has been provided to suggest how, by changing the age range, the progress of students would be improved. The pupils in a primary school would not have the range of specialist teaching in years 5 & 6 which we believe would risk the standards currently achieved at GCSE. This level of specialism would not be possible in one form entry or less primary schools. A broad and balanced curriculum for primary aged students is currently a focus for Ofsted. At Corbridge Middle School we do have specialist teaching in years 5 to 8.
Without evidence that a risk assessment on the effect on attainment at KS2 has been completed we are concerned that standards may not be maintained at KS2, leading to the potential that standards at KS4 would not be maintained let alone improved. Evidence from other schools, or partnerships of schools, who have expanded or changed their age range shows this is a high risk. Nine of the sixteen secondary schools in Northumberland have changed their age range. In 2017, the top four secondary schools for progress 8 and top three secondary schools for attainment 8 are all 13-18 secondary schools with feeder middle schools.
We have seen no measurable evidence that students in the care of Hadrian Learning Trust since year 5 have progressed any better than those from Corbridge Middle School or St Joseph’s Middle School. There is no evidence that the progress of pupils would be improved by extending the teaching, leadership and management of Hadrian Learning Trust for all 11 - 18 students.
No evidence how educational experience would be better than now
The enrichment opportunities that students at Corbridge Middle School have are outstanding. We are able to frequently involve whole year groups in a variety of enrichment opportunities. We also engage fully with local businesses and members of the community to extend students’ learning into business and the local community. This would be much harder in a very large secondary school, with little evidence that this currently takes place at Queen Elizabeth High School. There is a lack of evidence how enrichment opportunities would be maintained or improved. This has an impact on lifelong learning, engagement and future aspirations.
Our current structure of education allows children to have “three bites” at the cherry for holding positions of responsibility across the breadth of school life whether this is as a member of school council, captain of houses, leader of bands, sports teams, or main acting/singing parts in school productions. Almost half of the children at Corbridge Middle have represented the school in a sports event or competition and almost 60% have participated in a lunchtime or after school sports club. Participation and uptake of activities for pupil premium children is comparable with all other children.
All our first and middle schools offer a good education but have unique qualities. Parents therefore have the choice at first and middle school age to determine which school has the right ethos, values and educational offer for their child.
No information regarding what an 11-18 school can achieve and deliver compared to the current structure with modifications
There has been no information provided or research evidence shared by Hadrian Learning Trust on how the change in structure would improve the provision for the pupils in 7&8 or indeed 9. The only points raised by Hadrian Learning Trust during the consultation are that the larger class sizes in years 7&8 would help financially to support smaller classes in years 9 and above.
The curriculum offer in year 9 has reduced dramatically to the point where Hadrian Learning Trust does not offer the recommended broad and balanced national curriculum suggested by the National Curriculum framework document. This framework includes compulsory teaching of art & design, citizenship, computing, design technology and music. We recognise that as an academy, Hadrian Learning Trust is free to decide upon its curriculum but disagree that such cuts to curriculum should be made in years 7, 8 or 9 regardless of being a high school or secondary school.
We have attached an extract of the speech given by Amanda Spielman, HM Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills, at the Festival of Education 23rd June 2017 which shares her views on curriculum and the substance of education (Appendix 6).
Corbridge Middle School has never been opposed to making changes. We do believe we have played an instrumental part in the partnership work on assessment, age related expectations and continuity of the curriculum across schools. We have attempted to explore the sharing of staff with Hadrian Learning Trust as we already have experience of successfully sharing both teaching and support staff with other schools outside our partnership. We would welcome further opportunities for working together at a strategic level, as a close partnership of schools, for the benefit of the wider community.
As part of your consultation document, we had expected that an improved more inclusive offer for post 16 education would have been incorporated into your plans. Given the context of our large rural catchment area, it is disappointing that 40% of your year 11 students have to continue their education much further afield.
2. PROPOSED SIZE OF THE SCHOOL AND THE IMPLICATIONS
Currently Queen Elizabeth High School, with a KS4 cohort size of 302, has the 58th largest PAN in England.
Of those “secondary” schools with a cohort size similar or greater than the size of Queen Elizabeth High School, 29% (17) are 13/14-18 high schools. Your statement on page 7 that ‘our local three tier system is increasingly out of step… there are now only 46 13-18 high schools (1.4% of all secondaries)’ is therefore misleading. Schools of a similar size to Queen Elizabeth High School are more likely to be part of a three tier system than the national picture suggests.
If Queen Elizabeth High School became an 11-18 secondary school with a capacity 1850 students, it would be the 71st largest (out of 4,168) secondary school in England with feeder primary schools well below the average size for England.
The Sele would be the only primary school with more than one form entry with all other feeder schools being one form entry or less.
Commentary
We struggle to understand how any organisational or physical design of a new secondary school could minimise the enormity of the transition from small primary school to large secondary school. Parental feedback confirms our belief that there would be serious implications for the well being and education of children moving to such a large establishment. (Transition document from MSF)
Hadrian Learning Trust Consultation Document Section 5. What does this mean for your child? identifies some aims for how you will be improving the educational journey for all children. You have not explained how you plan to achieve these aims and we would disagree that the aims mentioned would provide any improvement on what we currently have. Parental feedback has confirmed that
Loss of parental choice for children at age 11 in rural areas with poor public transport
We have major concerns that parents would have only one choice of secondary education. Whilst the ‘Collaborative Model’ that we shared with parents has been well received, the main feedback has been on the lack of choice from age 13. This would be exacerbated if the age range was changed to 11-18. We have adapted our ‘Collaborative Model’ to a ‘Collaborative Pathways Model’ accordingly to include provision up to age 18 in the Haydon Bridge area.
Distances involved and lack of public transport within the Hexham (and Haydon Bridge) catchment areas mean that already parents have little choice but to send their child to their “catchment school”. Any choice that currently exists would be taken away with Prudhoe partnership operating a three tier system and the future direction of HBHS currently unclear. If HBHS were to close and with William Howard school instructed to reduce its PAN; NCC would still have an obligation to provide places but currently the only nearest options at year 7 would be Hexham, Prudhoe Highfield Middle School, Ponteland Middle or High School, Consett, Ryton or Blaydon.
Transition from primary to secondary school
In a two tier model, only The Sele would be larger than one form entry with all remaining feeder schools being either one form entry or less. It is suggested in your document that there could be 24 primary schools feeding into Queen Elizabeth High School. Currently parents are very positive about the smooth transition from first to middle and from middle to high. No concerns have been raised about transition arrangements by Hadrian Learning Trust.
We do not believe that having potentially 24 primaries transferring to you into year 7 will raise standards or ease transition, quite the contrary.
No information for how such a school would be structured both physically and organisationally
Given that you have been considering becoming an 11-18 school for over a year, details of how you wish to structure your school would have better informed our response.
3. INCLUSION
Attainment and progress data from Corbridge Middle School and feedback from our School Improvement Partner indicate that Corbridge Middle School provides an excellent educational experience for pupils and particularly for SEN and disadvantaged students. Parental feedback and feedback from outside agencies from Northumberland, County Durham and London education authorities is outstanding. We have not been provided with any information detailing why provision for disadvantaged students or students with Special educational needs and disabilities will be enhanced by being in a bigger school from age 11.
Any details of proposed enhanced provision, SEND support or specialist services are missing from your consultation report.
4. Managing Change, the future strategic direction and theo evidence that the leadership team have capacity of leadership and governance of Hadrian Learning Trust
We have not had access to a risk assessment or an impact study that supports the Hadrian Learning Trust view that it has the capacity to drive the school to become an outstanding school as well as manage the significant changes should this proposal go ahead. The scale of the changes which are being proposed would require outstanding Leadership and Management
5. FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Hadrian Learning Trust achieved a surplus of £91,000 in their first annual accounts ending August 2017
Hadrian Learning Trust have shown a swing of +£500,000 in forecast year end balances by end August 2019 in the nine months between consultations.
Hadrian Learning Trust have shown a swing of +£720,000 in forecast end balances by end August 2022 when comparing both consultations.
Financial forecasting
It is difficult to have clarity in the financial information provided within your published accounts and your consultation documents, with such large swings in year end balances over such a short period of time.
The commentary attached to the graph (page 9) showing budgeted income and costs 2017-2021 does not explain the drop in income of £250,000 forecast in 2019/2020 when student numbers are forecast to be relatively flat. With an in year deficit of £330,000 we would expect to be told the reasons behind this drop.
Similarly, no commentary has been provided to explain how the in year balance reduces by £428,000 between 2018/19 and 2019/20; we would expect an explanation of such a large change.
No modelling has been provided to show the impact of becoming an 11-18 school in expenditure so we are unable to make any further judgement.
Size of school rather than phases in school
There are too many variables to state that a primary-secondary system is inherently more efficient to run. It is both the size of the school/s and organisation of schools which attracts efficiencies rather than the phases educated. With 72.9% of the income in schools relating directly to the number of pupils in the school, it is more important to achieve economies from expansion either through federation or multi academy trusts, than considering age range change.
Our geographical area does have different challenges in that only 52% of the residents of the Hexham catchment area live in the town of Hexham and only 29% of residents of Hexham/Haydon Bridge catchment area live in the town of Hexham. Any education system being designed for our area must take into account the needs of those residents who live not only in Hexham but also in the wider catchment area.
The potential financial gain for Hadrian Learning Trust cannot be viewed in isolation but must incorporate any financial implications for the schools feeding into Hadrian Learning Trust and income into the partnership of schools as a whole. This includes the loss of lump sum funding @ £110,000 per school, sport premium funding of £16,000 per school and the potential loss of up to £25,000 sparsity funding per school if rural schools are merged to form larger schools. NCC have currently put forward a potential model of two tier education for both Hexham and Haydon Bridge partnerships which would see a loss of £1.6 million in budget share per annum for the partnerships of schools in the West. This loss in income equates to 9% of the total budget share (minus rates). We would be interested to see your modelling for this.
Minimum per student funding level
The information supplied in the consultation document is misleading.
We have received the following information from the Funding Policy Unit at the Department for Education:
It is correct that the minimum per pupil funding level is lower for KS3 only schools than it is for secondary schools which teach both KS3 and KS4. The minimum per student level for secondary schools has been set in consideration of the requirements of teaching both KS3 and KS4 students. The policy intention is that the factor provides a minimum level of funding to the school as a whole, depending on the phases of education it provides. The funding is not for the education of the individual students who attract it. This is why the minimum per student funding level for key stage 3 only schools is lower.
Having said that, we have received feedback from several stakeholders about the size of the differential, and we are reflecting on this for 2019-20.
In 2018-19 and 2019-20 LAs can choose whether or not to implement the minimum per student funding levels and can choose to set them up to the values used in the NFF.
The funding levels published for 19/20 are under review and at present the NCC Schools Forum has used the funding provided to support the higher Key Stage 4 AWPU of £4,580 (cf £4,386 Hard NFF rate). The current 18/19 budget share for Queen Elizabeth High School, Hexham Middle School, Corbridge Middle School and St Joseph Middle School show that all schools are receiving more than the minimum per student funding level so no top up funding is to be received.
The technical guidance note confirms that the minimum per student funding level is in place for 18/19 and 19/20. There is no evidence that this per student funding guarantee will be available after implementation of the hard National Funding Formula.
If this were an important consideration for Hadrian Learning Trust, you are already in a position to combine Queen Elizabeth High School and Hexham Middle School into one school to attract the higher per student funding level for 40% of the proposed Key Stage 3 students.
6. CAPITAL INVESTMENT HAS BEEN PROMISED FOR EDUCATION IN THE WEST
Parental feedback has confirmed that they would wish for capital investment in the building stock of both Queen Elizabeth High School and Hexham Middle School and ideally a complete new build for Queen Elizabeth High School.
We understand as part of the NCC consultation into education in the west Northumberland, that NCC have set aside £45m for investment in education. It has been made clear that any investment ‘relies upon a rationalisation and investment process’. Whilst all three potential models put forward by NCC include statements regarding a new build of Queen Elizabeth High School/Hexham Middle School whether a two or three tier system is in place, it is not clear how much “rationalisation” ie schools closures would be required in order to release any capital funding. We hope that capital funding is forthcoming to provide Queen Elizabeth High School with a state of the art facility which can be achieved for far less than £50+ million without major disruption to all other schools.
Your Views on Proposal Two
If a decision is taken by Northumberland County Council/Department for Education to close Haydon Bridge High School, do you agree that Queen Elizabeth High School should expand to provide places for children from the Haydon Bridge Partnership from September 2019? NO
If you wish, please give the reasons for the answer you have given above.
Size of cohort
With a PAN of 350 Queen Elizabeth High School would have the 17th largest PAN in England. In our opinion this creates educational risks for our area if the school were to fail for whatever reason.
Size of School
If HBHS closed and Queen Elizabeth High School became an 11-18 secondary school with a capacity 2250 (NCC figures) it would be the 5th largest 11-18 secondary school in England with feeder primary schools well below the average size for England (average size 260 students)..
Practically this would mean that approximately 70% or 1600 students would be transported by school bus every day to a site in Hexham (to be determined).
There are plenty of examples of schools that have seen a drop in standards when their size has increased rapidly. We have not seen any risk analysis on this point. Parents have expressed their concern on the size of the school - particularly if they were transferring from a primary school at the age of 11.
Again, for the size and rural nature of the Hexham and Haydon Bridge catchment areas we do not feel this meets the needs of our community.
Parental Choice
We are really concerned that if HBHS closes and Hadrian Learning Trust take in their students, then there would only be one choice of school from age 13 or even 11. If Queen Elizabeth High School was to drop in standards or continued to have financial difficulties then this would affect all the students in the Hexham and Haydon Bridge area. If the curriculum offer or ethos and values did not suit a family, this would be their only choice.
Alternative suggestions
If you have any alternative suggestions that meet the Trust's objectives of improving educational outcomes and experience, financial sustainability and capital investment, please state them here.
Postcode: NE45 5HX
Are you responding mainly as: On behalf of Corbridge Middle School governing body
Your views on Proposal One
Do you agree that Hexham Middle School and Queen Elizabeth High School should be amalgamated and expand to create an 11-18 Secondary school? NO
If you wish, please give the reasons for the answer you have given above.
We do not agree that creating an 11-18 secondary school is the only option or the best way to meet your three objectives. In summary we strongly believe that this age range change would have a detrimental impact on our students, families and communities. We urge you to listen and to work with the schools in the Hexham Partnership to ensure that all the schools continue to go from strength to strength. We would refer you to the ‘Making significant changes to an open academy - Departmental advice for all types of academy trust’ document which states:
Where proposals are likely to have a significant impact on other local provision a full business case will usually be required to provide evidence that the education of children in the area, as a whole, will not be compromised. Where local provision is organised in three tiers and the aim is to move to two tier age range, the department expects schools to work together to ensure an appropriate coordinated implementation, and will only approve any individual proposal in that context.
This response has been formulated following discussion with our own stakeholders; our pupils, parents, feeder schools, parish council, other schools from the Hexham and Haydon Bridge partnerships and via our “I have a dream” online survey where 133 stakeholders have responded:
- What do you like about the education currently offered to your children?
- What could be better? What would you like a new improved education to look like?
- What, succinctly, is your dream?
We would ask that you also take into account our responses to your previous consultations to:
- form a Multi Academy Trust - May 2016 (Appendix 2), along with our letter to Andy Johnson then Director of Education (Appendix 3)
- change your age range - July 2017 (Appendix 5)
1. EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND EXPERIENCE
The results of Queen Elizabeth High School shows you are:
- in the top 12% schools nationally for KS4 progress
- 4th nationally in your group of 55 “similar” schools for both KS4 attainment and progress
- 22nd nationally in the Sunday Times parent guide for non selective secondary schools
- in the top 15% schools nationally for KS5 with progress score 0.16 and average grade B vs C nationally.
- Last year, 60% of your KS4 students stayed at your school for post 16 studies.
The results at Hexham Middle School are:
- 79th nationally in your group of 125 similar schools based on percentage of pupils meeting expected standard at KS2. (Corbridge Middle School is 25th and St Joseph’s Middle school 37th in their groups of similar schools)
- 11th for overall KS2 performance in Northumberland (Corbridge Middle School is 3rd and St Joseph’s Middle school 6th)
Impact on the wider partnership
Your consultation document states that the impact on the other schools would be that they became primary. Your unilateral decision outside of the NCC consultation to change your age range would have a significant impact on other schools within the partnership and their communities including the potential closure of Corbridge Middle School. From responses we have received, we know that this would be overwhelmingly unpopular with our parents, staff and wider community.
The reasons why we are saying NO:
No evidence how educational outcomes would improve in an 11-18 school
No information has been provided to suggest how, by changing the age range, the progress of students would be improved. The pupils in a primary school would not have the range of specialist teaching in years 5 & 6 which we believe would risk the standards currently achieved at GCSE. This level of specialism would not be possible in one form entry or less primary schools. A broad and balanced curriculum for primary aged students is currently a focus for Ofsted. At Corbridge Middle School we do have specialist teaching in years 5 to 8.
Without evidence that a risk assessment on the effect on attainment at KS2 has been completed we are concerned that standards may not be maintained at KS2, leading to the potential that standards at KS4 would not be maintained let alone improved. Evidence from other schools, or partnerships of schools, who have expanded or changed their age range shows this is a high risk. Nine of the sixteen secondary schools in Northumberland have changed their age range. In 2017, the top four secondary schools for progress 8 and top three secondary schools for attainment 8 are all 13-18 secondary schools with feeder middle schools.
We have seen no measurable evidence that students in the care of Hadrian Learning Trust since year 5 have progressed any better than those from Corbridge Middle School or St Joseph’s Middle School. There is no evidence that the progress of pupils would be improved by extending the teaching, leadership and management of Hadrian Learning Trust for all 11 - 18 students.
No evidence how educational experience would be better than now
The enrichment opportunities that students at Corbridge Middle School have are outstanding. We are able to frequently involve whole year groups in a variety of enrichment opportunities. We also engage fully with local businesses and members of the community to extend students’ learning into business and the local community. This would be much harder in a very large secondary school, with little evidence that this currently takes place at Queen Elizabeth High School. There is a lack of evidence how enrichment opportunities would be maintained or improved. This has an impact on lifelong learning, engagement and future aspirations.
Our current structure of education allows children to have “three bites” at the cherry for holding positions of responsibility across the breadth of school life whether this is as a member of school council, captain of houses, leader of bands, sports teams, or main acting/singing parts in school productions. Almost half of the children at Corbridge Middle have represented the school in a sports event or competition and almost 60% have participated in a lunchtime or after school sports club. Participation and uptake of activities for pupil premium children is comparable with all other children.
All our first and middle schools offer a good education but have unique qualities. Parents therefore have the choice at first and middle school age to determine which school has the right ethos, values and educational offer for their child.
No information regarding what an 11-18 school can achieve and deliver compared to the current structure with modifications
There has been no information provided or research evidence shared by Hadrian Learning Trust on how the change in structure would improve the provision for the pupils in 7&8 or indeed 9. The only points raised by Hadrian Learning Trust during the consultation are that the larger class sizes in years 7&8 would help financially to support smaller classes in years 9 and above.
The curriculum offer in year 9 has reduced dramatically to the point where Hadrian Learning Trust does not offer the recommended broad and balanced national curriculum suggested by the National Curriculum framework document. This framework includes compulsory teaching of art & design, citizenship, computing, design technology and music. We recognise that as an academy, Hadrian Learning Trust is free to decide upon its curriculum but disagree that such cuts to curriculum should be made in years 7, 8 or 9 regardless of being a high school or secondary school.
We have attached an extract of the speech given by Amanda Spielman, HM Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills, at the Festival of Education 23rd June 2017 which shares her views on curriculum and the substance of education (Appendix 6).
Corbridge Middle School has never been opposed to making changes. We do believe we have played an instrumental part in the partnership work on assessment, age related expectations and continuity of the curriculum across schools. We have attempted to explore the sharing of staff with Hadrian Learning Trust as we already have experience of successfully sharing both teaching and support staff with other schools outside our partnership. We would welcome further opportunities for working together at a strategic level, as a close partnership of schools, for the benefit of the wider community.
As part of your consultation document, we had expected that an improved more inclusive offer for post 16 education would have been incorporated into your plans. Given the context of our large rural catchment area, it is disappointing that 40% of your year 11 students have to continue their education much further afield.
2. PROPOSED SIZE OF THE SCHOOL AND THE IMPLICATIONS
Currently Queen Elizabeth High School, with a KS4 cohort size of 302, has the 58th largest PAN in England.
Of those “secondary” schools with a cohort size similar or greater than the size of Queen Elizabeth High School, 29% (17) are 13/14-18 high schools. Your statement on page 7 that ‘our local three tier system is increasingly out of step… there are now only 46 13-18 high schools (1.4% of all secondaries)’ is therefore misleading. Schools of a similar size to Queen Elizabeth High School are more likely to be part of a three tier system than the national picture suggests.
If Queen Elizabeth High School became an 11-18 secondary school with a capacity 1850 students, it would be the 71st largest (out of 4,168) secondary school in England with feeder primary schools well below the average size for England.
The Sele would be the only primary school with more than one form entry with all other feeder schools being one form entry or less.
Commentary
We struggle to understand how any organisational or physical design of a new secondary school could minimise the enormity of the transition from small primary school to large secondary school. Parental feedback confirms our belief that there would be serious implications for the well being and education of children moving to such a large establishment. (Transition document from MSF)
Hadrian Learning Trust Consultation Document Section 5. What does this mean for your child? identifies some aims for how you will be improving the educational journey for all children. You have not explained how you plan to achieve these aims and we would disagree that the aims mentioned would provide any improvement on what we currently have. Parental feedback has confirmed that
- the current transitions are gentle and align with the physical development of our children from small first schools to a large high school
- they feel no need to align time spent in school with the key stages as long as the curriculum taught at each stage is aligned across the partnership of schools
- there is no evidence to suggest that there is a dip in learning as a result of our three tier system, as shown by the 2017 Progress 8 score for Queen Elizabeth High School placing it in the top 12% schools nationally
- Carrying out KS2 SATs halfway through middle school is felt to reduce the stress caused by SATs being ‘the finale’ of primary school. How much preparation for KS4 exams is required? Parents already tell us that the level of testing carried out at Queen Elizabeth High School in preparation for KS4 exams is causing stress for their children
- Providing more time in larger schools does not necessarily allow pupils to take part in more “aspects of school life”. Currently students have a real opportunity to represent their school as a part of many different types of team, perform in or support school shows, be part of the school council and take part in competitions. This is all made possible because the schools are small enough to make opportunities more accessible.
- Your concept of creating schools within a school appear remarkably similar to what we have today, 3 middle schools and a high school all working together towards common aim.
Loss of parental choice for children at age 11 in rural areas with poor public transport
We have major concerns that parents would have only one choice of secondary education. Whilst the ‘Collaborative Model’ that we shared with parents has been well received, the main feedback has been on the lack of choice from age 13. This would be exacerbated if the age range was changed to 11-18. We have adapted our ‘Collaborative Model’ to a ‘Collaborative Pathways Model’ accordingly to include provision up to age 18 in the Haydon Bridge area.
Distances involved and lack of public transport within the Hexham (and Haydon Bridge) catchment areas mean that already parents have little choice but to send their child to their “catchment school”. Any choice that currently exists would be taken away with Prudhoe partnership operating a three tier system and the future direction of HBHS currently unclear. If HBHS were to close and with William Howard school instructed to reduce its PAN; NCC would still have an obligation to provide places but currently the only nearest options at year 7 would be Hexham, Prudhoe Highfield Middle School, Ponteland Middle or High School, Consett, Ryton or Blaydon.
Transition from primary to secondary school
In a two tier model, only The Sele would be larger than one form entry with all remaining feeder schools being either one form entry or less. It is suggested in your document that there could be 24 primary schools feeding into Queen Elizabeth High School. Currently parents are very positive about the smooth transition from first to middle and from middle to high. No concerns have been raised about transition arrangements by Hadrian Learning Trust.
We do not believe that having potentially 24 primaries transferring to you into year 7 will raise standards or ease transition, quite the contrary.
No information for how such a school would be structured both physically and organisationally
Given that you have been considering becoming an 11-18 school for over a year, details of how you wish to structure your school would have better informed our response.
3. INCLUSION
Attainment and progress data from Corbridge Middle School and feedback from our School Improvement Partner indicate that Corbridge Middle School provides an excellent educational experience for pupils and particularly for SEN and disadvantaged students. Parental feedback and feedback from outside agencies from Northumberland, County Durham and London education authorities is outstanding. We have not been provided with any information detailing why provision for disadvantaged students or students with Special educational needs and disabilities will be enhanced by being in a bigger school from age 11.
Any details of proposed enhanced provision, SEND support or specialist services are missing from your consultation report.
4. Managing Change, the future strategic direction and theo evidence that the leadership team have capacity of leadership and governance of Hadrian Learning Trust
We have not had access to a risk assessment or an impact study that supports the Hadrian Learning Trust view that it has the capacity to drive the school to become an outstanding school as well as manage the significant changes should this proposal go ahead. The scale of the changes which are being proposed would require outstanding Leadership and Management
- Queen Elizabeth High School and Hexham Middle School are good schools, not outstanding schools.
- Ofsted judged Leadership and Management to be good, not outstanding
- Reducing the MAT from two schools to one school is out of step with policy of the National School Commissioner.
- Queen Elizabeth High School is not a National Teaching School or National Support School
- Hadrian Learning Trust is not an approved sponsor. It would be useful to know where this age range fits with any longer term strategic plan to expand the MAT. There has been a lack of information regarding future growth of the MAT: vertical, horizontal or geographical expansion.
5. FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Hadrian Learning Trust achieved a surplus of £91,000 in their first annual accounts ending August 2017
Hadrian Learning Trust have shown a swing of +£500,000 in forecast year end balances by end August 2019 in the nine months between consultations.
Hadrian Learning Trust have shown a swing of +£720,000 in forecast end balances by end August 2022 when comparing both consultations.
Financial forecasting
It is difficult to have clarity in the financial information provided within your published accounts and your consultation documents, with such large swings in year end balances over such a short period of time.
The commentary attached to the graph (page 9) showing budgeted income and costs 2017-2021 does not explain the drop in income of £250,000 forecast in 2019/2020 when student numbers are forecast to be relatively flat. With an in year deficit of £330,000 we would expect to be told the reasons behind this drop.
Similarly, no commentary has been provided to explain how the in year balance reduces by £428,000 between 2018/19 and 2019/20; we would expect an explanation of such a large change.
No modelling has been provided to show the impact of becoming an 11-18 school in expenditure so we are unable to make any further judgement.
Size of school rather than phases in school
There are too many variables to state that a primary-secondary system is inherently more efficient to run. It is both the size of the school/s and organisation of schools which attracts efficiencies rather than the phases educated. With 72.9% of the income in schools relating directly to the number of pupils in the school, it is more important to achieve economies from expansion either through federation or multi academy trusts, than considering age range change.
Our geographical area does have different challenges in that only 52% of the residents of the Hexham catchment area live in the town of Hexham and only 29% of residents of Hexham/Haydon Bridge catchment area live in the town of Hexham. Any education system being designed for our area must take into account the needs of those residents who live not only in Hexham but also in the wider catchment area.
The potential financial gain for Hadrian Learning Trust cannot be viewed in isolation but must incorporate any financial implications for the schools feeding into Hadrian Learning Trust and income into the partnership of schools as a whole. This includes the loss of lump sum funding @ £110,000 per school, sport premium funding of £16,000 per school and the potential loss of up to £25,000 sparsity funding per school if rural schools are merged to form larger schools. NCC have currently put forward a potential model of two tier education for both Hexham and Haydon Bridge partnerships which would see a loss of £1.6 million in budget share per annum for the partnerships of schools in the West. This loss in income equates to 9% of the total budget share (minus rates). We would be interested to see your modelling for this.
Minimum per student funding level
The information supplied in the consultation document is misleading.
We have received the following information from the Funding Policy Unit at the Department for Education:
It is correct that the minimum per pupil funding level is lower for KS3 only schools than it is for secondary schools which teach both KS3 and KS4. The minimum per student level for secondary schools has been set in consideration of the requirements of teaching both KS3 and KS4 students. The policy intention is that the factor provides a minimum level of funding to the school as a whole, depending on the phases of education it provides. The funding is not for the education of the individual students who attract it. This is why the minimum per student funding level for key stage 3 only schools is lower.
Having said that, we have received feedback from several stakeholders about the size of the differential, and we are reflecting on this for 2019-20.
In 2018-19 and 2019-20 LAs can choose whether or not to implement the minimum per student funding levels and can choose to set them up to the values used in the NFF.
The funding levels published for 19/20 are under review and at present the NCC Schools Forum has used the funding provided to support the higher Key Stage 4 AWPU of £4,580 (cf £4,386 Hard NFF rate). The current 18/19 budget share for Queen Elizabeth High School, Hexham Middle School, Corbridge Middle School and St Joseph Middle School show that all schools are receiving more than the minimum per student funding level so no top up funding is to be received.
The technical guidance note confirms that the minimum per student funding level is in place for 18/19 and 19/20. There is no evidence that this per student funding guarantee will be available after implementation of the hard National Funding Formula.
If this were an important consideration for Hadrian Learning Trust, you are already in a position to combine Queen Elizabeth High School and Hexham Middle School into one school to attract the higher per student funding level for 40% of the proposed Key Stage 3 students.
6. CAPITAL INVESTMENT HAS BEEN PROMISED FOR EDUCATION IN THE WEST
Parental feedback has confirmed that they would wish for capital investment in the building stock of both Queen Elizabeth High School and Hexham Middle School and ideally a complete new build for Queen Elizabeth High School.
We understand as part of the NCC consultation into education in the west Northumberland, that NCC have set aside £45m for investment in education. It has been made clear that any investment ‘relies upon a rationalisation and investment process’. Whilst all three potential models put forward by NCC include statements regarding a new build of Queen Elizabeth High School/Hexham Middle School whether a two or three tier system is in place, it is not clear how much “rationalisation” ie schools closures would be required in order to release any capital funding. We hope that capital funding is forthcoming to provide Queen Elizabeth High School with a state of the art facility which can be achieved for far less than £50+ million without major disruption to all other schools.
Your Views on Proposal Two
If a decision is taken by Northumberland County Council/Department for Education to close Haydon Bridge High School, do you agree that Queen Elizabeth High School should expand to provide places for children from the Haydon Bridge Partnership from September 2019? NO
If you wish, please give the reasons for the answer you have given above.
Size of cohort
With a PAN of 350 Queen Elizabeth High School would have the 17th largest PAN in England. In our opinion this creates educational risks for our area if the school were to fail for whatever reason.
Size of School
If HBHS closed and Queen Elizabeth High School became an 11-18 secondary school with a capacity 2250 (NCC figures) it would be the 5th largest 11-18 secondary school in England with feeder primary schools well below the average size for England (average size 260 students)..
Practically this would mean that approximately 70% or 1600 students would be transported by school bus every day to a site in Hexham (to be determined).
There are plenty of examples of schools that have seen a drop in standards when their size has increased rapidly. We have not seen any risk analysis on this point. Parents have expressed their concern on the size of the school - particularly if they were transferring from a primary school at the age of 11.
Again, for the size and rural nature of the Hexham and Haydon Bridge catchment areas we do not feel this meets the needs of our community.
Parental Choice
We are really concerned that if HBHS closes and Hadrian Learning Trust take in their students, then there would only be one choice of school from age 13 or even 11. If Queen Elizabeth High School was to drop in standards or continued to have financial difficulties then this would affect all the students in the Hexham and Haydon Bridge area. If the curriculum offer or ethos and values did not suit a family, this would be their only choice.
Alternative suggestions
If you have any alternative suggestions that meet the Trust's objectives of improving educational outcomes and experience, financial sustainability and capital investment, please state them here.
- There are many models of all through Multi Academy Trusts and schools which, although still in their infancy appear to be developing exciting and innovative practice. Expanding the MAT vertically would enable Hadrian Learning Trust to build on the positives of current Years 5&6 specialist teaching with the ability to lead the teaching and learning of students from age 9.
- If Hadrian Learning Trust was extended to incorporate other schools , all schools could work collaboratively together whilst become more financially viable through economies of scale.
- We assume you are exploring the opportunities for increasing your income from September 2018, by encouraging more pupils in year 12 & 13 to study maths beyond GCSE level and therefore enabling you to access the Advanced Maths Premium of £600 per student per year.
