Joining a Multi Academy Company

As you may already be aware, the governing body of Maryvale Catholic Primary School has applied to become an academy under the Academies Act 2010 and is proposing to join the St John John Paul II MAC.   The governing body is now consulting on whether the school's conversion to academy status should take place.  Further information about what becoming an academy means and how to comment on the proposals is set out below.

Will Maryvale definitely become an academy?

The governing body has submitted an application to convert to academy status and is working towards a conversion in May 2025; however, the school is not obligated to become an academy until the contract between the multi academy trust and the Department for Education (known as the Funding Agreement) is signed. 

The academy trust will not sign the Funding Agreement until parents and carers of pupils at the school, staff at the school, and pupils themselves have had the opportunity to comment on the proposals.  We have already previously written to all parent and carers and have also invited them to a meeting previously to learn more about the proposals to become an academy or to comment on the proposals.  We have also held meetings with staff and will be keeping pupils informed throughout the process.  

Any comments or representations which are made about the proposals will be considered by the governing body before it takes the final decision to convert to academy status.  Details of how to provide comments and representations are set out below.

The governing body will not vote to proceed with academy conversion unless they are content that conversion would be in the best interests of the school, taking account of all of the legal and practical ramifications. 

What is an academy?

An academy is essentially an independent school which is funded by the state.  It is indenpendent of the local authority and receives its funding direct from central government.   We are proposing to become an academy as part of the St John Paul II MAC.  This means that we will be part of an academy group comprising of Bishop Walsh, Edmund Campion, St Nicholas, St Peter and Paul, The Abbey, St Mary and John, Sacred Heart, Holy Cross and St Josephs Catholic Schools.  

What are the benefits of being an academy?

In the school's opinion the benefits are numerous:

Academies are independent of local authority control - this means that academies have more freedom about how they conduct themselves. 

Academies receive their funding direct from cental government - this means that academies receive more funding because none is retained by the LA for the provision of central services. 

Academies have more freedom over the curriculum taught - this means that academies do not need to teach parts of the national curriculum which they do not consider appropriate for their pupils.   

Academies can set their own pay and conditions of service for their staff - academies have the freedom to alter the pay and conditions of their staff (subject to normal employment low protections for staff) and so can provide staff with better pay and conditions than previously. 

Academies have more freedom to undertake innovative projects - academies are companies and so have more freedom to undertake innovative projects, such as setting up and utilising trading subsidiaries. 

Are there any disadvantages to becoming an academy?

The St John Paul II MAC will be directly liable for matters such as insurance, employment liabilities, pensions, health and safety, and property maintenance.  However, as mentioned above, academies receive more funding from central government to help them meet these additional costs and, in any event, the St John Paul II MAC already deals with these matters for the schools who are already part of the company. 

Once the school has converted, there is currently no route to revert back to being a maintained school under local authority control - academy conversion is a permanent change. 

If the school were underperforming in the future, the Secretary of State may have the power to force the school to transfer to a different academy trust; however, in those circumstances, it is likely that the Secretary of State would have the power to intervene, even if the school remained a local authority maintained school. 

Will the admissions arrangements change?

As a VA school, already deals with its own admission arrangement.  As an academy the St John Paul II MAC will deal with admission arrangements and will also still be bound by national School Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals Code. 

As a VA school, admissions arrangements are set by the local authority and the local authority decides which pupils should be offered places at the school.  As an academy, the St John Paul II MAC willl put in place admission arrangements and decide which pupils should be offered places in accordance with those arrangements.  The academy will still be bound by the national School Admisisons Code and School Admission Appeals Code.  

The current admission arrangement will remain in place for the time being.  If the academy wanted to change its admission arrangements, consultation would be required.  

Will staff leave?

If the school converts to academy, all staff currently employed by the school will automatically transfer to the new academy on their current pay and conditions.  Although the academy will have more freedom to amend those pay and conditions in the future, the governing body does not intend to take such a step in the foreseeable future and, in any change to pay and conditions would need to be consulted upon with staff represntatives. 

Will Maryvale change?

We do not intend to change, except in ways which we think will improve the school even more.   For the children, it is unlikely that they will see much, if any, change in their day-to-day school lives. 

Academies do have the power to vary their curriculums and vary the length of the school day; however, it is not intended to take any such steps at this stage and we would engage with parents/carers, staff and children if we did ever intend to make such changes in the future.  

How can I find out more?

School has already invited parents/carers to a meeting in the last academic year. 

If you would like to know more about the conversion proposals.  Please email the school at enquiry@maryvale. bham.sch.uk and we will respond to any questions or concerns you have. 

There is also information about academies on the DfE website:

https://www.gove.uk/education/setting-up-or-changing-the-status-of-a-school

If you can't find the answer to your question here or on the DfE website and cannot email the school  Please telephone school on 01216751434 and we will try to assist. 

How can I make representations?

To respond to this consultaion on whether the conversion of the school to academy status should take place:

Representations can be made in writing to:

Maryvale Catholic Primary School, Old Oscott Hill, Kingstanding, Birmingham.  B44 9AG or email enquiry@maryvale.bham.sch.uk.

The closing date for representations are 28th March 2025.