Changes to the principles and policies of the Schools for the Future programme
Changes have been agreed to the principles and policies of the Schools for the Future programme, aimed at providing greater clarity for schools and parents and supporting a fair and equitable approach across the whole of Central Bedfordshire.
These new principles and policies include:
- Support for a target to improve learning outcomes to above the national average at Key Stage 2, Key Stage 4 and Post-16.
- The council no longer making initial proposals for changes to academies, as they are not the key decision-maker. They will now welcome two-tier proposals from Academy Trusts, which are supported by the Department for Education
- Proposals for two-tier conversion will be matched against Central Bedfordshire Council-validated pupil place requirements
- Schools for the Future capital investment will not support early years or post-16 proposals
- Proposals to improve and create SEND places will continue but SEND investment will be a parallel programme led by Children’s Services and not directly managed by the Schools for the Future programme
- A new Design Principles Policy that sets out what can fairly and equitably be funded across the schools still in the three-tier system
- A new six-point criteria, which the council will consider all conversion proposals against
These changes were made in response to Central Bedfordshire Council adopting its Local Plan in July 2021. This was a key milestone which created the opportunity to reconfirm the school place provision required.
Feedback from schools involved in the programme also highlighted that schools would welcome more transparency and clarity about the parameters of the programme.
The Schools for the Future programme remains an ambitious programme of work taking place to raise educational standards through the provision of places required across Central Bedfordshire in line with the Local Plan. Part of this is the move to the two-tier model of education and is key to improving our education offer and in attracting and retaining the best teachers.
The objectives of the programme remain to:
- Improve educational outcomes at all Key Stages
- Ensure sufficient places (appropriately located) to best meet demand from housing growth.
- Shape the future educational landscape – to provide clear educational pathways and reduce the number of transitions.
- Deliver best value – to ensure viability.
- Facilitate more school-based SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disability) provision, early years provision on school sites and school based sixth form provision.
What happens next?
Central Bedfordshire Council will now invite all Governing Bodies and Trusts to consider and hopefully support these proposals
The Council is now working towards publishing an outline phasing plan for the new primary / secondary system in each area, with the aim of giving all schools and parents the confidence that Schools for the Future will benefit all pupils in all the schools now looking forward to the new primary / Secondary system.
This phasing plan will be published on this website and we will work together with parents to communicate this through schools.
Where can I find out more about the Schools for the Future programme?
The Schools for the Future website is the main source for all the latest information about schools in the programme. New information about schools in a particular area will published on the Schools for the Future website plans for change page, within the relevant local area page when it is available.
For answers to more general frequently asked questions about the Schools for the Future programme, go to the Parents: Your questions answered section.
Also on this website, you can find: