Academy Status Update

4 November 2011

Dear Parents/Carers

Academy Status Update

We wrote to you in September regarding Heston Community School’s possible conversion to Academy status, explaining the various reasons behind the Governing Body’s decision to consult staff, parents/carers, students, community partners and the Local Authority on this matter. The consultation period ended on 27 October 2011 and Governors wish to thank all those who took part in the consultation. All contributions were a very valuable part of the decision making process.

Following a thorough review of the issues relating to Academy Status and due consideration of responses received as part of the consultation, we now write to inform you that at a Full Governing Body Meeting on Thursday, 3 November 2011, the Governors of Heston Community School voted in favour of academy conversion. This decision was a majority decision. Consequently, the Application to Convert Form will now be completed and sent to the Department for Education and the process of converting to Academy Status will begin with the aim of becoming an Academy by April 2012. We want to reassure you that this decision was not taken lightly.

We know that the key ingredients of Heston Community School’s success include:

·         An unwavering focus on teaching and learning, standards and progress

·         Outstanding student support

·         Being an inclusive school with excellent, specialist SEN and Hearing Impaired provision

·         Ensuring that every action we take is focused on the benefits it may bring to students

·         Retention and recruitment of outstanding staff

·         Outstanding leadership and management

·         Being a school at the heart of its community and which collaborates very effectively and successfully with other schools in Hounslow and beyond, both primary and secondary.

All these ingredients will remain as Heston Community School converts to Academy Status. Our status of a Trust School means that much of the independence that comes with being an Academy already applies to us. The most significant change is that Academies are funded directly by central government and a proportion of the funding that goes directly to the Local Authority is received by the Academy instead. The biggest operational changes would be at Governing Body level and in the way in which the School’s finances are managed.

We remain deeply committed to maintaining our strong ethos and school aims.  The School will continue to develop innovative practice and a passion for learning and to provide appropriate levels of challenge to ensure that all of our students can make good progress.  Their learning and life chances will continue to remain central to all we do.

Thank you for your interest and continuing support.

Yours faithfully

Mike Lawton                                  Phil Ward

Chair of Governors                           Headteacher