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Resolved to:
 
This council
notes:
 
1) That Woodingdean
Primary School is undergoing a consultation on proposals to join
the Eko Trust.
2) There is
significant concern about the principle of academisation from
staff, parents, carers and the community.
3) Woodingdean has two
‘good’ Ofsted rated maintained schools which deliver
excellent educational outcomes for children.
4) The Eko Trust is in
the process of a merger with another Multi Academy Trust –
feeding uncertainty into the process and future implications for
the school.
5) School governors
are a vital asset to our family of schools and help deliver
excellent educational opportunities for the children of our city
– hence we do not want to see them undermined as is often the
case in a Multi Academy Trust.
 
This council resolves
to:
 
1) Request that the
Leader of the Council writes to the Co-Chair of governors at
Woodingdean Primary to seek to extend the consultation period to
the autumn, supporting parent’s wishes.
2) Request officers to
consider how best to ensure that Woodingdean school governors are
fully aware and briefed on the school improvement work undertaken
in recent years, and the totality of the LEA offer to schools prior
to the next Full Governing Board meeting where feedback from the
consultation is to be discussed.
3) Request officers
and Cabinet members to listen and respond to feedback from the
school and to consider whether bespoke packages of support are
available and committing to always innovate and evolve the LEA
offer.
4) Request officers to
consider how they can seek out schools considering academisation,
and to present a robust case to them for remaining with the
LEA.
5) Note the
Administration’s position to explicitly oppose new
academisation proposals on principle.