Academy Conversion Consultation

Thank you for all your responses from the consultation process. Answers to the questions can be found below and further information can be found at https://hallam-diocese.com/schools-home/mat-development/

• The consultation period closed on 11th May.
• The Governing Board made the decision to approve to convert to academy status.
• Application submitted to the Advisory Headteacher board/decision pending.
• Aim to convert on 1st September 2022.

As you will see from the responses from the questions, we will still be OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, we will still keep our identity, our uniform, we will continue to provide what is best for our children by working together. Please keep us all in your prayers as we move to this exciting new venture.

We will of course continue to share any relevant information with you on our journey through, texts, emails, website and Facebook.

Have your say about Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary becoming an academy and forming St Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust

We hope you are well and enjoyed a blessed Easter. We are writing today because we are launching an important conversation.

We want you to join our Governing Body consultation about the Bishop’s vision for all Diocese of Hallam schools. His plan is for all Hallam schools to be academies and to join one of two Catholic Multi Academy Trusts. These Trusts are companies that were set up by the Diocese in August last year. For our school, we would help to establish St Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust together with other Diocesan Primary schools. Further details about what being part of a MAT involves and the benefits for our school can be found here https://hallam-diocese.com/schools-home/mat-development/

We are really keen to hear from you and get everyone talking. Your views as colleagues, parents, pupils, friends, neighbours and parishioners are all equally important to us. Please do take a moment to get involved in our discussion. Here is our Google form https://forms.gle/SXG3DX1Cc21N2r9fA you can use to have your say. The form will be available until lunchtime on Wednesday 11 May when the consultation closes.

We want to know what you think. We will listen to what you say before we make any decisions. The idea is for us to decide at our next Governing Body meeting. We will let you know what we have decided by 17th May. If the Governing Body resolve to join St Francis, we would then apply, with other Diocese of Hallam schools, to the Department for Education, for approval to do so and become an academy. If approved, we would then begin a new conversation with our dedicated staff team about what this means for them. There is a formal legal process known as TUPE to help us to make sure that their jobs, contracts and terms of conditions are protected. Additionally, we are assured there will be minimal impact or change in the classroom. The plan is for St Francis CMAT to launch on 1st September.

Please do keep us all in your prayers as we work and grow together through this consultation.

Yours in Christ,