LongRoadSixthFormCollegeandTheSixthFormCollege,Colchester,are consultingontheproposaltoco-createanewmulti-academytrust.
APRIL 2024
PUBLICCONSULTATION
TableofContents 03:THEPROPOSAL 04:CONSULTATIONTIMELINE 07:OURCOLLEGES 08:OURVISION 10:BENEFITSOFOURPROPOSAL 11:BENEFITSTOSTUDENTS 13:BENEFITSTOSTAFF 15:BENEFITSTOCOMMUNITY 17:FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONS 22:YOURVIEWS 24:PRIVACYSTATEMENT 06:HOWTORESPOND 02
LongRoadSixthFormCollegeandTheSixthFormCollege, Colchesterareconsultingontheproposaltoco-createanew multi-academytrust
Theproposednameforthetrustis
TheSixthFormCollegesTrust
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T H E P R O P O S A L
17April2024: PublicConsultationbegins
17May2024: PublicConsultationcloses
4July2024: Consultationoutcomepublished
1September2024: ProposeddateforthecreationofTheSixthFormCollegesTrust
C O N S U L T A T I O N T I M E L I N E
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12NOON 17MAY2024
DEADLINEFORRESPONSESTOPUBLICCONSULTATION
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HOWTORESPOND
Responsesmaybesubmittedusingthe followinglink:consultation.longroad.ac.uk
Weinviteyoutoshareyourviewsonourproposalas outlinedbelow.Allresponseswillbecarefullyconsider andwillinformournextsteps.
Aconsultationresponseformhasbeenincludedatth endofthisdocumentforyourinformationandcanals besubmittedviaemailto:Anne-MarieDiaper (ClerktotheGovernors)atClerk@longroad.ac.uk
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OURCOLLEGES
BothLongRoadSixthFormCollegeandTheSixthFormCollege,Colchester, provide16-19generaleducationwithawiderangeofALevels,AppliedGeneral qualifications,andGCSECourses.
LongRoadSixthFormCollegecurrentlyhas2,61616–19-year-oldstudentsonroll, 2,584fulltimeand32parttime.
TheSixthFormCollege,Colchestercurrentlyhas3,21516–19-year-oldstudentsonroll, 3,170fulltimeand45parttime.
Pleasedotakealookatourwebsiteswhichcontainawealthofinformationabouteach College.
LongRoadSixthFormCollege,LongRoad,Cambridge,CB28PX wwwlongroadacuk
TheSixthFormCollege,Colchester,NorthHill,Colchester,EssexCO11SN wwwcolchsfcacuk
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OURVISION
Ourvisionistocreateadynamic,innovativepartnershipof inclusivesixthformcolleges,makingapositivecontributionto post-16learningintheEasternregionandbeyond.
Webelieve,asTheSixthFormCollegesTrust,wewillbestronger,moreresilient,and creativetogether.WewanttopreserveandenhancebothTheSixthFormCollege, ColchesterandLongRoadSixthFormCollegeformanygenerationstocome.
Theadditionalstaffingcapacityandincreasedfundingthatwillcomefromworkingasa Trustwillsupportourcommitmenttoprovidethebesteducationwecanforallour students.Together,wewilleducateover6,000students,employover400staff,and manageanincomeofcloseto£30million.Bypoolingourresourcesandexperience,our aimistodevelopevermoreeffectivestrategiestoreducedisadvantageandenable everystudenttothrive.TheprincipleofinclusivityunderpinstheTrustweaimtocreate.
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Astwosixthformcollegeswesharea similarethos,values,anddirection; however,asalargerorganisationonce webecomeaTrust,wewillbeableto: extendlearningopportunitiesand activitiesforstudents, enrichthecurriculumthrough partnershipworkingandshared resources;
enablethesharingofexcellent practiceinteachingandlearningand support,furtherimproving effectiveness,outcomes,and progressionforallstudents; enhancetheprofessional developmentofteachingandsupport staff;
andsecurevaluablecostand resourceefficienciesthroughjoint commissioningofserviceswhichwill enablemorefundstobereinvested backintothestudentexperience.
Ourgoalistoempowereverystudentto achievetheiruniquepotential.Wewant ourstudentstoleaveourTrustreadyto progress,equippedwiththeskills,
knowledgeandunderstandingtoenjoy anenrichinglifeandtomakeapositive differenceintheworld.
Tosupportandinspireourstudents,we needtorecruitandretainadiverse, high-calibrestaffcommunity.Working togetherasaTrustprovidesusbothwith awidertalentpoolforrecruitmentand moreopportunitiesforcolleaguesto developandprogress.
Together,wecaninvestfurtherto promoteaculturethatsupportsstaff wellbeing,thatidentifiesandnurtures futuresubject/collegeleadersandplans forsuccession,ensuringourTrustisa fulfillingplacetowork.
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BENEFITSOF OURPROPOSAL
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HOWWILL THIS PROPOSAL BENEFIT STUDENTS?
Sharingofgoodpracticereeffective teachingandlearningincluding sharedresources.
Accesstoanevenmoreextensive programmeofenrichmentsuchas jointtripsandactivities
Increasedopportunitiesforvaluable work-relatedlearningthrougha centralisednetworkofemployersand businesses.
TheStudentVoiceamplifiedwitha widernetworkforcollaborationand socialaction.
Enhancedsharedfacilitiessuchasthe VirtualRealitysuite. Thedevelopmentofexisting partnershipswithlocaluniversitiesto enhanceprogressionpathwaysintoHE andintothemostcompetitive courses.
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Asanillustration:
TheEssexDevelopmentStrategysetsoutfivekeysectors:Construction(includinggreen constructionandretrofit),CleanEnergy,AdvancedManufacturingandEngineering,Digi-tech, andLifeSciences(includingmed-techandcare-tech)Cambridgehasavibranthealthcare andlifesciencessector,withleadingcompanieslocatedrightonLongRoad’sdoorsteponthe CambridgeBiomedicalCampus,andleadingtechnologybusinessesthroughouttheGreater CambridgeRegion,sothereareclearsynergiesandoverlapswithEssex.
CreatingtheTrustwillallowustotapintoopportunitiesthroughourrespectivelinkswith employersinthesesectorstoenhancetheprogressionpathwaysavailabletoallourstudents. Forexample,sustainabilityisoneofLongRoad’scorevaluessobeingabletotapintothe emergingCleanEnergyandgreenconstructionsectorsintheEssexregionthroughthe relationshipwithColchesterwillgiveLongRoadstudentsmoreopportunitiestoconnectwith thesebusinessesandviceversa Wewillplanjointcareerseventsandactivitiesopento studentsateachcollege,therebyofferinggreaterreachandimpacttoregionalemployers andcreatingeconomiesofscaleandefficiencies.TheprojectedgrowthoftheCambridge BiomedicalCampuswiththeadditionofaChildren’sHospitalandaCancerHospital,aswellas additionallifesciencescompanies,andtherelatedworkforceneeds,notleasttheNHSLong TermWorkforcePlanrequirements,willnecessitatedevelopingatalentandrecruitmentpool fromacrossawiderregion.
Throughthegrowinglinks betweenLongRoad,the NHS,andCambridge BiomedicalCampus employers,Colchester studentswillbeableto tapintoopportunitiesthat maynotbesoeasily accessibleintheirregion alone. Thisjoined-upthinking andplanningismuch morelikelytoachievethe aspirationsofstudents andmeettherecruitment needsofemployers.
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Enhancingcurriculumdeliverythrough sharedresourcesacross subjects/courses.
HOWWILL THIS PROPOSAL BENEFIT STAFF?
Sharedexpertiseandcollaborative workingacrossspecialistteamssuch asSafeguarding,AdditionalLearning Supportandstudentwellbeing. Awiderpeersupportnetwork.
Moreprogressionopportunitieswithin alargerorganisation.
Anenhanced,careerdevelopment programmeusingtheexpertisewithin eachcollege.
Additionalfundingtoincrease investmentinteachingandlearning, facilitiesandresources
Alarge,financiallystable,and sustainableemployer,wellplacedto respondandadapttoexternal influencesandopportunities
Astrengthenedcapacitytobidfornew initiatives/funding
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WebelievethattheTrustcanprovidemanymorecareeropportunitiesthanoneinstitutioncan offeraloneandtherebywillassiststaffretentionandrecruitment.Thismatters,ascriticalto studentsuccess,isathrivingcommunityofskilledprofessionals.
TheTrustwillalsoenableenhancedstaffdevelopmentthroughsharedpedagogicresearch andthroughtheunificationandexpansionofourcurrentteachertrainingprogrammes designedtogrowthenextgenerationofpost-16teachers.
Smallersubjectsinparticular,willgainbycreatingnewpartnershipsenablingauseful exchangeofideasretheexamboardspecificationsandpedagogy,itwillalsohelpwith standardisationofinternalexaminedassessmentandmoderationofNon-Examassessment (NEA).
Additionally,wewillbemoreabletoinvestinnewpoststhatasanindividualcollegewemight notbeabletoafford.OnesuchareaisinthedevelopmentandapplicationofArtificial Intelligence(AI)wherewewillbebetterabletofundapostcollectively,acrossbothcolleges,to developanddrivestrategy.
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HOWWILL THIS PROPOSAL BENEFITTHE WIDER COMMUNITY?
Continuedcollaborationwithlocal schools,FurtherEducationandSixth FormColleges.
Employerswillhaveaccesstoalarger cohortoffutureemployees.
AfinanciallyresilientTrustthatenables bothCollegestocontinuetoserve theirlocalcommunitieslongintothe future.
SustainablygrowingtheTrustto benefitmorestudentsandstaffacross theregion.
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Increasedcollaborationopportunities:
Nationally,TheSixthFormCollege,ColchesterandLongRoadaremembersoftheSixthForm CollegesAssociation(SFCA),anationalnetworkofsixthformprovidersactivelyengagedin systemsleadershipacrossthepost-16sector,withasharedmissionthat:‘allsixthform studentsdeservetheverybesteducationalexperiencethatinspiresthenandsetsthemupfor life.Aflourishingnetworkofdedicatedsixthformcollegeswillmakethisareality. ’
ThecurrentmembershipoftheSFCAisresponsibleforafifthofallAlevelsdeliveredinEngland. Weareanopenandcollaborativesector,andwewillshareourlearningwithouracademy colleaguesandlookforwardtolearningfromtheacademysectoralso.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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WhyareyouproposingtocreateanewTrustrather thanjoinanalreadyestablishedlocalone?
Wehavechosentoco-createaTrustso wecancrafttheTrust’sinitialvision togetheranddesignhowourTrustwill workusingoursixthformcollege experience
WewanttocreateaTrustofpost-16 institutions,muchlikeaSENDoraprimary one,toensurethattheTrustfocuses clearlyontheneedsof16–18-year-old students Assixthformcolleges,weare highlyeffectivespecialistsinpost-16 learningasourstudentoutcomesand Ofstedratingsdemonstrate.
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WhyLongRoadSixthFormCollegeandTheSixthForm College,Colchester?
LongRoadSixthFormCollegeandTheSixthFormCollegeColchesterhaveparticipatedin CENBASE,apeerreview/qualityimprovementpartnership,forover14years.Senior leaders,CurriculumHeadsandothersmeettwiceatermandhaveastrongfoundationof trust.Anannualhighlightisourco-deliveredStaffDevelopmentconference.June2023 saw300teachersattendwithachoiceofover25workshops.TheTrustwillhelp strengthenourexistingcollaborationandenableustofurtherenhanceteachingand learningqualityandbettersupportinnovation,throughregular,structureddialogue acrosscurriculumteamsandsupportservices.
MightothercollegesjointheTrust?
Weexpectthatotherswilldosointhefuture,whenweconsiderittobetherighttimefor us.Duediligencecheckswillalwaysbeundertakenbeforeanycollegecouldjoin.The focusoftheTrustwillremainfirmlyonwhat’srightforourstudentsandstaff,notseeking toempirebuild.
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WhatchangeswillweseeinSeptember2024at LongRoadSixthFormCollegeandTheSixthForm College,Colchester?
Therearenoplanstoaltertheeducation provisioncurrentlyprovidedbyeach Collegeortochangetheadmissions criteria
Wewanttopreservewhatmakeseach institutionuniqueandsuccessful,and thereforehavenoplansforanidentical, standardisedapproachateachcollege. Wewillmaintainournamesanddistinct identities.Forstudentsandstaff,therewill belittle,immediatechangeasadirect resultofformingtheTrust.Thechanges youwillseewillcomethroughclose collaborationandteamworkandour desiretoincreaseopportunitiesforour communities.
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WilltheTrustreceiveincreasedfunding?
AnimmediatesavingforeachcollegewillbethroughVAT.AsSixthFormColleges(unlike schoolsortheindependentsector)bothLongRoadandTheSixthFormCollege, ColchesterarerequiredtopayVAT.Asanacademytrust,thecollegeswouldbeableto reclaimVAT. For2023/24thisamountstocirca£700k.
AsaTrustwithanefficient,collaborativeapproachtoprocurementinsuchareasas energy,ICT,legalservices,andavarietyofothersignificantcontractswewillbeableto makesavingsandachieve‘bestvalue’withoutcompromisingquality.Oursizewillenable theTrusttobuildstrongerrelationshipswithkeysuppliers(e.g.Energy),providingmore supplychainresiliencewhichcouldproveveryvaluableinmoreturbulenttimes.Together wecanbringastrategicandcontinuousimprovementapproachtomeetingtheevolving budgetrequirementsoftheTrust.
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YOURVIEWS
Wearekeentohearyourviewsonour ambitiousvisionforthefutureofourtwo collegesandweinviteyoutotakepartin theconsultation.
Aconsultationresponseformcanbe completedhere: consultation.longroad.ac.uk
Theconsultationperiodwillrunfrom 17thAprilto17thMay2024.
Allresponsesmustbereceivedby noonon17thMaytobeconsideredas partoftheconsultationprocess.
Alternatively,emailyourresponsesto Anne-MarieDiaper(Clerktothe Governors)atClerk@longroad.ac.uk
Pleaseletusknowifyourequirethe consultationinanalternativeformat
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RESPONSEFORM
Theconsultationresponsecanbecompleted here:consultation.longroad.ac.uk
Alternatively,emailthecompletedformto: Anne-MarieDiaper(ClerktotheGovernors)atClerk@longroad.ac.uk
Pleaseselectthemostappropriate
☐ Student ☐ StaffMember ☐Parent/Carer/Guardian
☐ LocalEducationProvider
☐ TradeUnionRepresentative
☐ Applicantfor2024entry
☐ Other(pleasespecify)
DoyousupporttheproposalasoutlinedinthisconsultationthatLongRoad SixthFormCollegeandTheSixthFormCollege,Colchestercreateanew multi-academytrust,TheSixthFormCollegesTrust?
☐ Yes ☐ No
☐ Unsure
Comments:
Ifyourequireanacknowledgementtoyourresponse,pleaseprovidedetails below.
Name: Address: Signed: Date:
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PRIVACY STATEMENT
AnypersonalinformationyouprovidetoLongRoad SixthFormCollegeortoTheSixthFormCollege, Colchesteraspartoftheconsultationprocesswill onlybeusedforthepurposesofacknowledgingyour participationand/orrespondingtoanyqueriesyou submitatyourrequest Itshouldbenotedthatyour contributionmaybepublishedinasummaryof responsesreceived,howeveryournameoranything thatcouldidentifyyouwillnotbemadepublic.Any personalinformationyouprovidewillbekeptfor6 monthsandthendestroyedinasecuremanner.
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