Schools achieve federation status

Schools which have been given the opportunity to explore alternatives to closing have successfully federated after working with Shropshire Council. 

The council’s Cabinet agreed in 2011 not to proceed with proposals to close Lydbury North, Onny and Stiperstones primary schools, to allow them to progress federation plans. Federation involves two or more schools coming together with a single governing body. 

The council had previously proposed to close the schools following consultation which took place on an unprecedented scale to look at the future of education in the county.  The council has worked alongside schools and their communities for more than a year to look at the challenges facing Shropshire’s schools and how these can be addressed.  This began with the development of a new education vision and school organisation policy as recommended by an Independent Policy Commission. 

Throughout the process the council encouraged and supported schools, parents, governors, pupils, the diocese, town and parish councils and wider communities to come up with viable, sustainable alternatives to the proposals. 

Stiperstones CE Primary School brought forward a potential solution to federate with Chirbury CE Primary School.  Onny and Lydbury North primary schools presented a proposal to federate together.  They have since worked with the council to develop their proposals. 

At a meeting on 11 January 2012 Cabinet will be asked to note that as from 1 January 2012 Stiperstones CE Primary School and Chirbury CE Primary School achieved federation status, as have Lydbury North CE Primary School and Onny CE Primary School. 

Cabinet is also recommended to agree next week not to proceed to close Stiperstones, Lydbury North and Onny primary schools within the set of proposals that went to Cabinet in 2011, and to ask the Corporate Director – People to continue to monitor the development of the federations. 

Councillor Cecilia Motley, Cabinet member responsible for schools, said:

“From the beginning, we have urged people to come forward with viable, long term alternatives to the proposals, which still ensure we can provide excellent education for all our children.  Where this has happened we have listened as has been shown in giving Lydbury North, Onny and Stiperstones the opportunity to proceed with federation arrangements.

“The report to Cabinet explains that as stand-alone institutions Lydbury North, Onny and Stiperstones had become unsustainable in the current network of schools – and while we will need to continue to monitor progress, these federations offer a much stronger model to secure the future of the schools. 

“They have demonstrated commitment to federating and are establishing strong links to improve standards, as well as focusing on the more practical and operational aspects. 

“As we continue to work to provide the best education for all Shropshire pupils for years to come, we are encouraging more schools to federate.  Schools across the county are recommended to pursue federation to make the best use of resources, strengthen their sustainability and improve the quality of education for all learners. 

“I would like to acknowledge the efforts of these schools which have worked hard on their business plans for federation and we look forward to working with more schools to develop federation plans as we move forward.”

The Cabinet report outlines that the main focuses of federation are: 

• Shared leadership
• Shared self-evaluation and school improvement aims
• Increased efficiencies, including through effective use of time and resources

It adds how the benefits of the two federations include: 

• Making overall savings while increasing spending on teaching and learning
• Staff in each federation working at both schools, allowing greater staff development opportunities and improving pupil achievements
• Shared improvement focuses based on joint evaluation
• Joint curriculum plans to make best use of shared resources, visits and staff expertise and to enable joint assessment of outcomes

For further information on wider school organisation proposals, decisions and Cabinet reports please click here.