Academisation

Academisation Communications

CAT Oversight Group

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CAT-Challenge-Group-published-minutes-September-2022

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Please use this link to register you interest in becoming a Director. Could you be a Director?

Our Academy Trusts

W: www.kcsp.org.uk
T: 01622 232 662
E: office@kcsp.org.uk

W: www.selcat.org.uk
T: 0207 202 8199
E: enquiries@selcat.org.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

The following questions have been raised over a number of events with Headteachers and Governors in July and September 2022. If you have any other questions and answers you would like added to the list, please contact pennypemberton@rcaos.org.uk

FAQs – Staff/People

How will staff anxiety and worry be managed around their contracts

Early engagement with staff and unions is critical. Conditions of TUPE should be shared with staff at the earliest opportunity to ensure staff are clear that there is no change to terms and conditions as a result of the Academisation process. There is absolutely no intention by the Diocese to enable any changes to Terms and Conditions through the academisation of schools. The Diocese cannot act as a JCC but encourages new CAT Directors to work with schools at an early stage to provide reassurance to staff.

Do we as a school have any say over who the executive is or do the Diocese decide? Will leaders have experience in running schools?

Standard job descriptions for both CEO and CFO are available for CATs to use for recruitment, and all executive positions will be open nationally. The Diocese will be part of the recruitment panel, and will need to approve the final appointments.
All CATs boards will be formed of Foundation Governors who will be appointed by the Archbishop in the same way Foundation Governors are appointed.

Who are the Governors and Directors going to be?

The Directors are appointed by the Diocese and will be recruited in a similar process to that of a Foundation Governor. Directors will be recruited on a skills basis, and a Board will have between 8 – 10 Directors. All Directors on RCAOS CATs will be Foundation Directors. There are a number of eligibility criteria for Directors.
Local Governing Bodies will still need Governors, and this will be represented by Foundation Governors and Parent elected Governors. If you are interested in becoming a Foundation Governor then please click here – Could You Become a Governor or Director? – Education Commission for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark (rcaoseducation.org.uk)

FAQs – Project Implementation/ Timescale

What is a reasonable pace for academisation?

The Diocese is not outlining a deadline for academisation at the moment, but expects the programme to fulfil the timeline requirements outlined in the White paper. It is recognised that the easiest way to set up a MAT is in tranches, starting with between 8 – 10 schools and growing from there with further tranches over a period of time.

Do all CATs need to use the same legal and accountancy firms?

On conversion, we will be asking everyone to use the same legal firm to ensure consistency in our approach. We have learned through our existing MATs that various land issues etc. have been dealt with differently depending on legal representation at the time of conversion, leading to a longer term overhead for the Diocese.
There is no requirement to use the same accountancy firm.

FAQs – Choice/ Which MAT?

Will we be placed in a MAT or is there some choice?

The Diocese is not intending at this moment to prescribe which CAT each school should join. Schools are being encouraged to talk and form groups of schools which serve their communities and parishes. Each group wishing to move forward with creating a CAT will be required to attend the new CAT Challenge group to ensure principles are adhered to.

Will the Diocese be creating shell CATs for schools to join, or is the plan for groups of schools to work together and create the CATs?

The Diocese is keen for groups of schools to work together in identifying groups to form CATs.

Do schools within the same parish need to be aligned to the same CAT?

At this stage we have not stated this as a requirement for CATs.

Can we join a CAT in another Diocese e.g. if we are close to the border of another Diocese and our children move into a school in another Diocese?

This would need express permission from both the Archbishop of Southwark and the Bishop leading the neighbouring Diocese, however any individual school remains under the remit of the home Diocese. The Archdiocese are keen that the Southwark family remains in a Southwark CAT. However, if there is a strong case for joining a CAT in an adjacent Diocese then this can be considered initially at the CAT Challenge group.

How many schools should there be in a MAT?

The white paper outlines a minimum criteria of at least 10 schools or 7500 pupils. However, in order to achieve strong financials sustainability, the Diocese is seeking to create Trusts with 20+ schools.

FAQs – Finance

Are there funds available for the conversion process?

VA schools receive a grant of £25,000 to support the conversion process. Existing SATs are not entitled to the same grant. However, CATs can apply for a capacity grant from the DFE in the event of a number of SATs forming a MAT. However the capacity grant is discretionary.

There are concerns that the central services set up by a MAT are not sufficient to support the number of schools within that MAT? How will the Diocese oversee this?

When a CAT expands, the CAT challenge group will be seeking assurance from the CAT that the shared services are both sufficient and affordable.

Can services continue to be delivered by Local Authorities? How do we know we can get a better deal elsewhere?

The MAT can choose to procure services from any provider – including Local Authorities. Schools will have to remove themselves from the LA finance systems, but can tender for services as a company and can choose to have services delivered from the Local Authority providing the Local Authority has the ability to trade those services.

Do individual CATs define their own topslice or does the Diocese define the top slice?

Each CAT will define its own shared service (which will define the top slice) and this will not be prescribed by the Diocese. However, the Diocese will review financial sustainability of the CAT and work with the Directors to ensure shared services are appropriate, and cost effective for schools.

Who is going to ensure that the MAT does not fail due to financial expenditure?

The CAT Challenge group will be overseeing all RCAOS MATS, including finance, expenditure and audit reports. The Members of RCAOS MATs will all be the same, and will have responsibility to ensure that the Directors are managing the MAT in a sustainable manner.

FAQs – Diocesan Strategy

Who authored the principles document?

The principles were developed with the Trustees of the Diocese and were issued by the Archbishop.

Are we as a Diocese starting again in terms of Academy strategy?

To an extent yes. We are aware of groups of schools who have started discussions and those should continue to develop. The revised approach is intended to ensure no school is left out of any discussion, and consistency is in place across the Diocese.

Are there any plans for our CATs to include special schools?

The DFE do not believe that special schools should be faith based so there are no plans to create special schools. However we strongly support schools who wish to open specialist resource centres alongside mainstream provision where sites have the capacity.

All documentation assumes that land is owned by the Diocese with no recognition of the role of religious orders and the Trustees. Religious orders are often not engaged with formally as part of the process.

The Diocese has had conversations with some religious orders, and has been dealing with lease and land issues for current conversions that are taking place. The Diocese is aware that we work alongside a number of religious orders and communication with those orders will take place on a project by project basis.

What are the thoughts around sixth form colleges?

The CES are planning to discuss the approach for sixth forms in September. Following that, we would like to set up a separate meeting with the Sixth form colleges to discuss the best approach. There are options to consider including sixth form colleges forming a separate CAT across the Dioceses, or for sixth form colleges to join MATs within their existing areas.

FAQs – CAT Challenge Group

Who is on the new CAT Challenge group?

The new MAT (CAT) Challenge group will sit from September 2022. Its purpose is to support the Diocese in the delivery of it’s Academisation programme though providing oversight and challenge to Academisation projects, as well as oversight of Southwark MATs. A Terms of Reference will be developed and approved at the inaugural meeting. Once approved, they will be published on the Education Commission website.
Proposed attendees include:
·       The Episcopal Vicar for Education
·       RCAOS Chief Operating Officer
·       RCAOS Chief Financial Officer
·       RCAOS Head of Property
·       RCAOS Diocese Schools Commissioner
The meetings will also be attended by a number of professionals from the Education Commission to provide advice and guidance to the Challenge group.

Will the Challenge group members be (or become) the statutory members of the MATs?

No. Each CAT will have statutory members as defined in the Articles of Association. RCAOS CATs will have the same members.

How can I get on the agenda of the CAT Challenge group?

Please contact pennypemberton@rcaos.org.uk

FAQs – General

What is the definition of a successful MAT?

The government will be defining what a “strong trust” and OFSTED will adapt its model around the new definition. For the Diocese, the strong trust definition alongside the requirements of a distinctively Catholic MAT are to be defined.

Will the Diocese be talking to the Governing Bodies?

Yes. There will be a number of briefings set up in September to provide Governors with information and the opportunity to ask questions.

Can a non-Catholic school join a Catholic MAT?

This has not happened to date but it can happen and would be agreed on a case by case basis.

Is it possible for further support and discussion relating to proposed CATs?

Yes, if you would like us to attend any meetings with groups of schools or governors, please do contact pennypemberton@rcaos.org.uk

Will the schools still have control over their admissions criteria?

In a MAT, the Trust becomes the admissions body, and this can be delegated to the Local Governing Body if this is documented in the Scheme of Delegation.