DCAT consultation

Consultation – Academy Status

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

We are writing to thank you for your participation in the recent consultation on the Governor’s proposal for the schools of the Oak Tree Federation to seek academy status, joining the Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust (DCAT).

 

All responses to the consultation have been gathered and analysed (including any comments submitted on the online form and at consultation meetings), and a report to Governors has been provided. This report will be available on the school websites shortly.

 

Governors have discussed and considered responses and have taken the decision to proceed with the proposal to join DCAT. The school will now begin to make the preparations required, with help from the DCAT team.

 

Next Steps

An application to convert will be prepared and submitted to the Department for Education (DfE) and this will be reviewed by the Regional Advisory Board for our area. If the application is approved, the Secretary of State for Education will issue an Academy Order.

 

A proposed conversion date has not yet been agreed, but we believe the Spring Term 2025 will allow enough time for all actions for conversion to be completed. We will update parents, carers and staff on a confirmed target date as soon as possible.

 

We can confirm that the pupils at both at Firle CofE Primary School and Laughton Community Primary School are always our priority, and we can reassure parents that the day-to-day running of our school will be unaffected by the work required to convert to academy status.

 

Thank you again for your continued support and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Debra Vice-Holt                                  Rachel West                           

Chair of Governors                              Executive Headteacher