Road to Academisation: Staying ahead of the Curve
The Current
The head teacher and staff at Tavistock College are not just thinking about the transitions of pupils new, current and old at this time of year, but also the potential transition of their school into the realms of academisation. Current negotiations are underway to ensure that the decision made, is the right one for the school. Head teacher, Sarah Jones, says they are ‘trying to do what is right for the children of Tavistock’ and both she and the governors are determined to protect the individual identity of the school, whilst identifying the right partner schools to match the ethos and values of Tavistock College.
Sarah believes moving to an Multi Academy Trust (MAT) school will offer security, opportunity and financial advantages that will benefit pupils and staff as well as the wider community within Tavistock. With the school’s positive growth in recent years, which means pupil numbers are good, it is an opportune time to take the school forward. It will allow the governors to choose the school’s direction while they still have the prospect of doing so. As Sarah says, it is ‘better to stay ahead of the curve than be chasing it’. Although Sarah admits the change does not one hundred percent guarantee perfection, nor is it a school improvement guide ensuring a good or outstanding school; but with the right leadership, it has the potential to do all of these things at Tavistock College.
The Benefits
For students it will provide more opportunities for enrichment through local and overseas trips as well as joint competitions and events, such as public speaking competitions, which will enhance the curriculum. The pupils will also benefit from the expertise and resources that other schools offer. The college would be able to provide a more varied course provision for sixth form pupils giving students more subject choice, allowing them to stay at the school.
Staff will be given the benefits of greater professional development opportunities and the use of subject expertise from other schools, strengthening the teaching and learning even further. They will be able to develop creative curriculums that inspire pupils and deepen their knowledge through links with teachers at their partner schools as well as through collaborative events.
For the school, working with other partners will also offer the possibility of saving money by sharing specialist services and teaching staff. This means more money can be used to progress the school by allocating saved funds in making improvements that benefit the pupils.
The Future
Sarah and the governors realise they have an Important job to complete which includes finding the right partnership schools for the college. This next academic year is projected to be a year of transition for Tavistock College. With partnership schools to select, a board of trustees and executive head for all the schools to appoint as well as finalising the process of changing to an academy. They are most definitely ‘staying ahead of the curve’.