Market Drayton school plans will not change funding or staff pay

Sam Scott, head at Market Drayton Infant school, said funding and staff pay have been the key issues regarding the plans affecting her school, Grove School and Market Drayton Juniors.

Governors at the schools have been consulting on a proposal to establish a charitable trust – the Market Drayton Learning Partnership.

This would see the schools strengthen the way they work together and change their legal status from 'community school' to 'foundation school'.

Community schools are controlled by a local council and not influenced by business or religious groups, whereas foundation schools have more freedom in the way they operate.

Foundation schools are run by a governing body which employs the staff and sets the entrance criteria.

A consultation meeting with parents and interested parties was held last week at Market Drayton Junior School.

Mrs Scott said: "A presentation was given about the work going on, how the schools have been working together and how we can make a formal collaboration.

"We have met with staff, parents and stakeholders and they have asked a range of questions.

"Parents have said that some of the documentation is difficult to understand so we will be sending out a summary of the benefits, what it is about and what it is not about.

"Similar questions were asked about paying conditions of staff, how schools are funded, admission code, how governing bodies operated, and how parents make their views known.

"Hopefully the documents we are sending out will answer those.

"I think on the whole people are quite positive and can see the benefits.

"It will not mean a change to how schools are funded or changes to pay staff. It should give parents a greater say on things."

Mrs Scott added: "We want to put together a system to ensure collaboration continues regardless of who the personnel are."

Governors say the proposed change will strengthen the ways the schools collaborate with each other and encourage greater community involvement.

The schools will remain a part of the local authority family of 'maintained' schools but will be supported by the trust, which will also legally hold their capital assets – their land and buildings – on their behalf.

Governors at the three schools propose to have a co-operative membership trust. They will join 700 other schools across the country which have a similar type of trust.

The co-operative trust model enables everyone who is involved with or interested in the schools to become involved in realising the long-term vision of the trust.

They can join a members' forum, which in turn elects representatives to the trust board.

Consultation runs until noon on July 11. A consultation questionnaire is available from any of the school offices, or from their websites.