Meeting at DfE on 25th Jan 2012 re: Special Academies
Please find notes below of the meeting which I think are self-explanatory
Attendees
John Hodgson – Team Leader, Special Academies and Free Schools
Pauline Myers – Special Academies on John's team
Karen Littlefair – as above
Andrew Sayer – as above
Andre Imich – SEN Professional Adviser
David Bateson – Ashfield School
Matthew Brackenbury – Thomas Wolsey School, Suffolk
Lorraine Dupen – The Ashley School, Suffolk
Ron Babbage – St John's, Bedford
Susan Shakespeare – team leader responsible for delivery of special academies
Karen Lucas – Education Standards Directorate - Learners with Learning Disabilities – Green Paper
Alison Solomons – as above
Simon Masterson
John Hodgson - Introduction
What things in the future might special academies in the future want to move into?
John Hodgson - DfE Update
A review of the legislation is taking place to clarify the differences between mainstream and special academy laws.
PfI issues have been 'delayed'.
Andre Imich – SEND Update
Response to Green Paper due to be published 'shortly' (EHC plan likely to proceed, still consider school action and school action plus, proposal that legislation around pre.16 and post 16 SEND should be aligned was well-received but will present a challenge)
31 Pathfinders across the country – testing out what an EHC would look like and are allowed to 'pilot' personal budgets.
Susan Shakespeare - Update
17 Special Academies by next week – all converters
1st sponsored academy by 1st April in Milton Keynes
160 registered an interest but all didn't go on to apply (a fifth have gone on to apply)
Applications are healthy
Very keen for existing special academies to take on board others
The List of Areas in which Special Academies may want to Develop/Innovate
John and Andre's List as a starter:
Expanding provision post-16/post-19
Expanding residential provision into respite care
Taking more children at risk of exclusion
Trade on specialisms: outreach, support specialisms
Take on the complex SEN population
My suggestions:
Research-engaged
Teaching School Role
Breaking down phase barriers
Children at risk in mainstream
Multi-agency
Having done the list……
The Central Themes are:
Training and Development of the Workforce/Research-engaged
Post 16 and Post 19 Transitions
Developing an inclusive system
Multi-agency working
Actions: John Hodgson and his team to write up notes and distribute and consult on next steps with senior DfE officers
Malcolm Reeve
Chief Executive - Columbus School and College