Petition to Governors of Woodleigh Federation. c/o Michelle Lambourne Clerk to the Governors.
We as the parents, and local community of Woodleigh Federation would like to inform the Governing body that both your letters (3rd and 6th February 2017) regarding joining the Link Academy Trust have not set to reassure parents that governors are consulting us on the decision to join, but feel that the decision has already been made.
We feel that we have not been presented with any information regarding what all the options are in replacing Mrs Leyman, and the for and against arguments for joining the Link Academy before the governors have decided that this is the best option. We are not against the idea of the Link Academy as an option, but we should have been consulted with, in order to consider all the options in line with the facts, prior to this decision being made according to due process.
We understand that you are going to arrange parent meetings after half term to give us information. We would like to be consulted rather than just informed, and given written information in addition to these meetings, on all options, as this is such a complex and important decision about the future of our village schools.
We appreciate the time that the governing body put to the management of our schools, however we are concerned this issue has been discussed by small number of governors for a long time without any parent consultation.
We are including the statement that this is a formal complaint, according to your procedures, in order to get proper consideration from the governing body.
Updates
February 9, 2017
The Governors at Woodleigh Federation are still acting like they can force this decision on us behind closed doors without a real conversation. We refuse to accept these insulting meetings that only exist to rubber stamp a choice they already made for our village schools.
February 9, 2017
The massive turnout behind this petition proves that the Woodleigh Federation governors can no longer hide their backroom deals from the people who actually care about these schools. They think they can just talk down to us at a meeting, but they are about to learn that we demand a real seat at the table.
21 Comments
If the Governors are genuinely interested in soliciting feedback from the stakeholders and are prepared to adjust their decision based on that feedback, then you're right, there is nothing to worry about and this petition will amount to nothing. However, after two letters, a large number of people feel that this has NOT been effectively communicated. People are genuinely concerned that the decision to join the Link Academy Trust has been made and that the tone of the letters is that any consultation will simply be treated as a one-way communication from the Governors to the stake holders about why they believe it is the right decision regardless of any protest or concerns presented.
Would like proper consultation about this please. It feels as though it's already been decided and there is extremely tokenstic consultation going on. We all appreciate the financial pressures local authorities are under but feel the model our schools operate under is of fundamental importance. Exactly how will the new proposed structure be accountable and to whom?
The fact that our schools only found out at the same time as the we tge parents did to me is very worrying! I would like to know the for and against argument for us moving to a link academy. At the moment i feel it is certainly not the right decision for our children and our lovely little village primary schools!
This link academy has only been in existence for a few months. Parents MUST be consulted. We are grandparents of children that will be affecredited.
It is important to me that due process is followed to ensure that the best decision is made for my children and their peers. Although it may be the right decision, it is unnerving that this has come out of the blue and apears that legal processes have not been followed.
I am with Chris Carter on this, everyone needs to calm down and re-read the letters that have been sent. There has been no decision made other than to investigate this as a possible way forward, their letter is the start of the consultation process. If we want our small village schools to remain open then it is the governing bodies responsibility to ensure a sustainable future, whatever that may be. Lets wait to hear what is said at the parents meetings after half term before jumping to any conclusions.
The Federation was set up to make our three schools more efficient, the staffing more streamlined and affordable but now we are told that the school must leave the county structure and become part of a government sponsored multi-academy trust, because the heads salary, which is set by the governors, is not affordable. So what's going on? Are the schools in deficit? The governors have kept their cards too close to their chests and need to be more open and accountable. Any change to the Federation's structure should be driven by a motivation to give our children and those to come, the best opportunities possible. The heads of schools are the people to be researching options and making recommendations to governors, parents and the wider community. They have the knowledge to know what is required to integrate schools to the benefit of the pupils and they would have to deliver any change. The proposed MAT has a strong church influence, have we been told this? What is its business plan? How strong are its finances? What is the commitment to retaining three local schools? There are good MATs and others that seem to be more focused on a dash for growth. They have a complex, even incomprehensible governance structure and no local accountability. They 'top slice' each schools funding to support executive posts. It would have been better to engage the staff and parents on this journey. The governors are not professionals and have not been advised well, but they must respect the community they serve and hold a proper 'conversation' and deliver what parents want for their children and our communities want for our schools.
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Petition to Governors of Woodleigh Federation. c/o Michelle Lambourne Clerk to the Governors.
We as the parents, and local community of Woodleigh Federation would like to inform the Governing body that both your letters (3rd and 6th February 2017) regarding joining the Link Academy Trust have not set to reassure parents that governors are consulting us on the decision to join, but feel that the decision has already been made.
We feel that we have not been presented with any information regarding what all the options are in replacing Mrs Leyman, and the for and against arguments for joining the Link Academy before the governors have decided that this is the best option. We are not against the idea of the Link Academy as an option, but we should have been consulted with, in order to consider all the options in line with the facts, prior to this decision being made according to due process.
We understand that you are going to arrange parent meetings after half term to give us information. We would like to be consulted rather than just informed, and given written information in addition to these meetings, on all options, as this is such a complex and important decision about the future of our village schools.
We appreciate the time that the governing body put to the management of our schools, however we are concerned this issue has been discussed by small number of governors for a long time without any parent consultation.
We are including the statement that this is a formal complaint, according to your procedures, in order to get proper consideration from the governing body.
Updates
February 9, 2017
The Governors at Woodleigh Federation are still acting like they can force this decision on us behind closed doors without a real conversation. We refuse to accept these insulting meetings that only exist to rubber stamp a choice they already made for our village schools.
February 9, 2017
The massive turnout behind this petition proves that the Woodleigh Federation governors can no longer hide their backroom deals from the people who actually care about these schools. They think they can just talk down to us at a meeting, but they are about to learn that we demand a real seat at the table.
21 Comments
I believe the staff were unaware of this and found out this decision on Friday too. I know some feel exactly the same as us parents. Staff are unable to vote, therefore just 6 governors may have decided our schools future without following the proper procedures of consulting the very people they should represent. This saddens me greatly. It may indeed be the right decision, but I now lack confidence as the correct procedures have not been followed in this irreversible decision.
If the Governors are genuinely interested in soliciting feedback from the stakeholders and are prepared to adjust their decision based on that feedback, then you're right, there is nothing to worry about and this petition will amount to nothing. However, after two letters, a large number of people feel that this has NOT been effectively communicated. People are genuinely concerned that the decision to join the Link Academy Trust has been made and that the tone of the letters is that any consultation will simply be treated as a one-way communication from the Governors to the stake holders about why they believe it is the right decision regardless of any protest or concerns presented.
Would like proper consultation about this please. It feels as though it's already been decided and there is extremely tokenstic consultation going on. We all appreciate the financial pressures local authorities are under but feel the model our schools operate under is of fundamental importance. Exactly how will the new proposed structure be accountable and to whom?
The fact that our schools only found out at the same time as the we tge parents did to me is very worrying! I would like to know the for and against argument for us moving to a link academy. At the moment i feel it is certainly not the right decision for our children and our lovely little village primary schools!
This link academy has only been in existence for a few months. Parents MUST be consulted. We are grandparents of children that will be affecredited.
It is important to me that due process is followed to ensure that the best decision is made for my children and their peers. Although it may be the right decision, it is unnerving that this has come out of the blue and apears that legal processes have not been followed.
I am with Chris Carter on this, everyone needs to calm down and re-read the letters that have been sent. There has been no decision made other than to investigate this as a possible way forward, their letter is the start of the consultation process. If we want our small village schools to remain open then it is the governing bodies responsibility to ensure a sustainable future, whatever that may be. Lets wait to hear what is said at the parents meetings after half term before jumping to any conclusions.
The Federation was set up to make our three schools more efficient, the staffing more streamlined and affordable but now we are told that the school must leave the county structure and become part of a government sponsored multi-academy trust, because the heads salary, which is set by the governors, is not affordable. So what's going on? Are the schools in deficit? The governors have kept their cards too close to their chests and need to be more open and accountable. Any change to the Federation's structure should be driven by a motivation to give our children and those to come, the best opportunities possible. The heads of schools are the people to be researching options and making recommendations to governors, parents and the wider community. They have the knowledge to know what is required to integrate schools to the benefit of the pupils and they would have to deliver any change. The proposed MAT has a strong church influence, have we been told this? What is its business plan? How strong are its finances? What is the commitment to retaining three local schools? There are good MATs and others that seem to be more focused on a dash for growth. They have a complex, even incomprehensible governance structure and no local accountability. They 'top slice' each schools funding to support executive posts. It would have been better to engage the staff and parents on this journey. The governors are not professionals and have not been advised well, but they must respect the community they serve and hold a proper 'conversation' and deliver what parents want for their children and our communities want for our schools.
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I believe the staff were unaware of this and found out this decision on Friday too. I know some feel exactly the same as us parents. Staff are unable to vote, therefore just 6 governors may have decided our schools future without following the proper procedures of consulting the very people they should represent. This saddens me greatly. It may indeed be the right decision, but I now lack confidence as the correct procedures have not been followed in this irreversible decision.