Bonitas and Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust
Bonitas’s vision has always been to see children and staff flourish, through values-led, high-quality education in an inclusive and collaborative community. Trustees have in recent months been exploring how to further strengthen our schools in line with this vision, and have formally agreed to begin the process for Bonitas schools to become part of a larger MAT, Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust (ODST).
The Trustees are confident that the vision, values and ethos of ODST align very closely with Bonitas, that this proposal is beneficial for our staff, students and wider community, and offers significant opportunity for growth and development of our schools. In becoming part of ODST, Ranelagh and Jennett’s Park would join a family of 43 schools that all retain their own unique identity, but benefit from wider collaboration, a wealth of additional expertise and a strong level of central support. With several ODST schools located nearby in Reading, Windsor and Maidenhead, Trustees believe that Bonitas schools transferring to ODST will also provide a richer educational community for the Bracknell Forest area as a whole.
We will be working closely with the leadership of ODST on the next steps of the process including due diligence and the proposed timeline, and both trusts are very clear and committed to ensuring that we embrace the needs of our school communities throughout for the mutual benefit of all.
Bonitas and Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust (ODST)
FAQs
What is a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT)?
A MAT is an education charity, run by educational specialists. MATs are responsible for running a group of publicly funded academies (schools) working collaboratively with a shared vision and shared values, in order to improve and maintain high educational standards for all their pupils.
MATs contribute towards building a strong and sustainable wider education community by sharing expertise and best practice, and also by training, developing and nurturing teachers, support staff and leaders. Bonitas is the MAT that currently is responsible for your child’s school. The proposal we are consulting you about would involve this changing to the Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust (ODST).
Who are ODST?
ODST is a successful multi-academy trust of 43 schools in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. ODST’s ethos as a MAT is one of empowerment. Schools serve their unique communities in the way they know best, with support from a central team to ensure they have what they need to support their pupils to thrive and flourish.
ODST is an inclusive trust with a range of school types including small rural schools, large city schools, infant, junior primary and middle schools, church schools and schools without a religious character. ODST schools develop and share best practice and work in support of one another, whilst benefiting from strong central support services. ODST is committed to delivering an excellent education which meets the needs of all learners, and has a track record of delivering improvements in schools experiencing challenge, as well as in supporting strong schools to continue to develop and to share their expertise with others.
More about ODST can be found at www.odst.org.uk
Why are you proposing that Bonitas schools transfer to ODST?
By joining a larger organisation, our schools will experience many more opportunities for school-to-school collaboration, a strong school improvement offer, effective pastoral and inclusion support, wider opportunities for staff development and greater potential for financial economies of scale.
What difference will I notice if my child’s school moves to a different Multi-Academy Trust?
In the short term, nothing will obviously change. The role of your child’s class teacher, the headteacher of the school, the office and support staff will not change as a result. Over time we hope you will notice continued improvements in the school as the benefits of being in a larger organisation start to filter through, but the very special school that we believe you value will be safe in its individuality and the way it serves your community.
Will parents still have a voice?
All the schools are committed to our community values, and this includes working with parents. So your ability to speak to your child’s class teacher or headteacher about any concerns you may have will not change.
What happens to the individual PTAs and Friends organisations?
Each school retains their own parents’ association and fundraising ideas.
Will the names of the schools change?
There are no plans to change the names of any of the schools as a result of becoming part of ODST.
Will the times of the school day and holidays change?
There are no plans to change the times of the school day. Schools in ODST generally follow the same or very similar holiday dates and school day as they did previously, and they keep in step with other local schools.
What will happen to the uniform?
There are no plans to change school uniforms as a result of becoming part of ODST. ODST schools all have individual uniforms.
Will my child still get the same support?
All children with particular needs will continue to receive the support put in place by their schools, and we will continue to work with the local authority and other agencies to get the best possible support for children.
Will there be any curriculum changes?
There are no plans to make a sudden change to your child’s learning. ODST schools are free to devise and implement the curriculum which suits them best. There is no single model that all schools are expected to follow. ODST leaders are passionately committed to investing in local curriculum design, so that leaders and teachers can tailor the curriculum to the needs and interests of pupils and allow teachers to be inspirational and love teaching and help pupils love their learning. This of course does not preclude the use of externally produced schemes, and schools serving similar communities often share resources and ideas with each other.
All schools are required to teach a broad and balanced curriculum and to monitor the impact of their curriculum carefully to ensure children are making strong progress. All schools have access to support both in other schools and from ODST’s school improvement team to help them devise and implement a curriculum that enables children to live abundantly.
What happens to the different organisations when one MAT joins another?
Bonitas schools will join ODST, and as such Bonitas MAT will cease to exist as a legal entity. ODST will become accountable for the schools, and staff in the schools will become employed by ODST.
Are there any risks to the schools as a result of this proposal?
Neither organisation would embark on a proposal such as this if it were not clear that it would benefit all the children. Transparency and communication are key to success in this area. For this reason, we have already started to establish very positive partnerships at Trust and school leadership, Diocesan and Board levels undertake a thorough due diligence process.
All schools recognise that the school staff teams should focus on the pupils on their roll, ensuring excellent standards and achievements are built upon year on year, but also that the experience of learning and working in the schools is happy, safe and stimulating.
As part of a MAT, however, there is also a collective responsibility for all pupils and students so that no school is left behind. The central team work very closely with Headteachers to identify strengths and areas for development and then determine how best to provide appropriate support.
Will there be any automatic changes to admissions policies?
There is no automatic change to admissions as a result of changing from one MAT to another. Admissions policies are considered by Local Governing Bodies and the MAT every year and determined well in advance. ODST schools are encouraged to follow a model policy, but local needs are always taken into account.
What does the proposal mean for staff?
The employer of all the staff is currently Bonitas but it will become ODST. Staff who are transferred have a legal right to retain their existing terms and conditions. We do not expect that this transfer of employer will have any impact on your experience of your child’s school.
How is ODST governed?
ODST has a Board of Trustees who will be the responsible body for all the schools. They will set the overall strategic direction for the Trust and the schools and maximize the funding for the benefit of all pupils equitably. Similar to Bonitas, individual schools within Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust have Local Governing Bodies (LGBs) for each school.
Key financial and governance information for ODST can be found here:
Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust - Key MAT information (odst.org.uk)
How does ODST support both church and community schools?
Trustees have both a desire and a duty to ensure each school retains its individual identity: church schools retain their identity and ethos as such, but there is also an absolute commitment to ensuring that community schools (those without a religious designation) retain their individual identity and serve their communities.
How is funding organised within the MAT?
Funding for schools within a MAT is governed through a Master Funding Agreement between the Secretary of State and the MAT, and supplemental agreements between the Secretary of State and each school within the MAT.
There are common financial procedures and delegations, and each school will be expected to maintain their own budget allocations and provide value for money.
What will happen to the land and buildings?
Ownership of the school sites will remain with the current owners – which is sometimes the Local Authority or the Church trustees in the case of the church schools. Currently there is a lease or similar legal agreement from the landowners to Bonitas, who have responsibility to maintain the buildings and grounds. These leases will be transferred to ODST.
What are the next steps?
Staff and parent consultation meetings will take place as part of this process, and offer an opportunity to ask questions.