Heads and governors were urged to “federate” – or join forces – as a way of tackling their financial shortfalls and falling pupil numbers at a summit this afternoon (Monday 10 June).
Officials from Brighton and Hove City Council called the summit to share “a proposal around a city of federated schools”.
The proposal is still in its early stages and could result in the creation of clusters of schools run by executive heads and joint governing bodies or a city-wide federation.
The council had been looking at the possibility of creating its own “multi-academy trust” as a defensive move as the Conservative government tried to convert all state schools into academies.
Ministers diluted the proposal for wholesale conversions but, with the prospect of a change of government next month, schools chiefs have looked afresh at the prospect of greater collaboration.
Already, some schools have become academies, including primaries in Whitehawk and Moulsecoomb, after critical official inspection reports.
Others such as West Blatchington, Hangleton and Benfield have opted to become part of a multi-academy trust for other reasons including the prospect of greater investment.
The financial challenges facing schools in Brighton and Hove have been a key driver of the plans, with falling pupil numbers pushing more schools into deficit. This has made cost-sharing more attractive.
It emerged before Christmas that more than half the community schools in Brighton and Hove were on course for a deficit in the 2023-24 financial year to the end of March.
A report said that 33 out of the 61 council-maintained schools had a licensed deficit – coinciding with the rising number of schools with spare places.
The government provided a “dedicate schools grant” – totalling £198 million for 2023-24 – with the council responsible for distributing the money to schools.
But if schools overspend by too much, the council would have to provide funding to enable them to balance their books.
Before Christmas, the “licensed deficits” for the 2023-24 financial year totalled £4.39 million, councillors were told, just less than the £4.54 million surplus at the end of the previous financial year.
The council’s assistant director of families, children and learning, Jo Lyons, wrote to all heads and chairs of governors of council- maintained community and faith schools in Brighton and Hove.
She invited them to the summit at the Sussex County Cricket Ground, in Eaton Road, Hove.
Dr Lyons said: “The purpose of the session is to ensure we all have a good shared understanding of the current critical financial position we are in as a city and how we can work together to address this.
“It will be an opportunity for us to consider options around how we tackle these financial challenges alongside the persistent issue of falling pupil numbers in the city.
“The council will be presenting a proposal around a city of federated schools and we are keen for your engagement in this.
“The proposal would involve all maintained and voluntary aided primary and secondary schools in the city including our faith schools.”
The material presented to heads and governors made use of similar ideas explored by neighbouring West Sussex County Council.
There is a precedent in Brighton and Hove too, with the amalgamation of almost all infant and junior schools into all-through primaries.
And in the NHS locally, family doctors’ surgeries have begun working in six largely geographic cluster.
A federation of schools could mean one executive head teacher in charge of a number of schools which could share a single board of governors.
Staff and other costs could be shared and this could mean the loss of some jobs with the unions likely to pay close attention to the proposals.
There is not yet a single fixed option on the table and, in her invitation to attend, Dr Lyons also said: “This is the start of a conversation.”
“… including the prospect of greater investment”
At no point has any school provided any evidence that they will recieve “greater investment” by being run by a MAT.
They instead find themselves saddled with the movie-star size salaries of CEOs to pay and less to spend on teachers. Academy schools do not get any money that other schools do not !!!
Perhaps the council should be doing more to ensure SEN and disadvantaged pupils are more fairly spread around the school system. At the moment it appears
some schools are getting away with ignoring Fair Access requests meaning that other more conscientious schools are taking an unfair share of the financial pressure that those pupils bring through the additional support needed.
Interesting there is a comparison here to the federation of GP surgeries. Which clearly isn’t working as it’s more difficult to get a doctor’s appointment than it ever was in Brighton….
They should stop talking and just get on with it. It could be very good for some of the weaker schools as the best senior management teams in the city will be overseeing some of the worst schools and the worst staff thinned out. Money could go on teaching kids not on running too many buildings and protecting jobs that are no longer needed.
Falling pupil numbers – Increasing student population and HMO’s depriving families of accommodation.
The proportion of students to the rest of the population in Brighton is beyond ridiculous and shows no signs of abating. Nearly every new block of flats is for student units.
What are the council doing about it? NOTHING – they’re encouraging it
We need to take a step back here! Our school and it’s management team have worked tirelessly to maintain Teaching Assistant, INA’s and Learning Mentor Rolls. These rolls are pivotal to the success of children being able to manage and access the school curriculum and environment. They are also having to manage more extreme behaviours and complex needs of children. Some children would not be in school without the support of this group of people. They are working with the most challenging children in terms of behaviour, ASC, ADHD, Medical conditions, SEND, EHCP and poor mental health. Without this group of people there would be more exclusions. These behaviours have a massive impact on the wellbeing of teaching staff and other pupils who’s learning can be constantly disrupted.
It comes down to money. The government needs to be investing in the future of our children and young people.