DECISION

1.    Note the decision of the Secretary of State for Education on 24 October 2023 to approve the applications from the Governing Bodies of Bishop Challoner RC, St Anne’s and Guardian Angels RC, and St Elizabeth RC to convert the schools to academy status,  and that the Council has a statutory duty under law to facilitate the conversion process.

2.    Delegate to the Corporate Director for Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Mayor, the overall management and timing of the conversion process working with all relevant parties.

3.    Authorise the council to enter into a commercial transfer agreement, if necessary and if agreed by all parties, on suitably agreed terms, as well as any other necessary agreements with relevant third parties, as described in paragraphs 3.1 – 3.11 of the report.

4.    Authorise the council to negotiate with the Academy Sponsor – Lux Mundi Trust and the Department for Education to agree the form and detailed terms of the appropriate documentation in relation to any council owned land to allow for the operation of the Academy from the transfer date.  Depending on the type of land and any directions received from the Secretary of State for Education, this may take the form of freehold transfers or the grant of leases for a period of 125 years for a ‘peppercorn rent’, in accordance with the relevant standard documentation produced by the Department for Education

5.    Authorise the Divisional Director, Legal (Monitoring Officer), to execute all documentation required to implement the decisions

6.    Note the equalities considerations as set out in Paragraph 5.1 of the report.

Action by

CORPORATE DIRECTOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES (S. REDDY)

Head for Pupil Access and School Sufficiency (T. Bryan)

Councillor Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning (Statutory Deputy Mayor)) introduced the report that formally notified Cabinet of the Academy Orders issued by the Secretary of State for Education on 24^th October 2023,  in respect of three maintained catholic schools:

-        Bishop Challoner RC Secondary,

-        St Anne’s Guardian Angels RC Primary,  and 

-        St Elizabeth RC Primary;

and to obtain the necessary authority to delegate responsibility required to named officers to facilitate the academy conversion process for and on behalf of the Council.

RESOLVED that the Mayor in Cabinet:

1.    Note the decision of the Secretary of State for Education on 24 October 2023 to approve the applications from the Governing Bodies of Bishop Challoner RC, St Anne’s and Guardian Angels RC, and St Elizabeth RC to convert the schools to academy status,  and that the Council has a statutory duty under law to facilitate the conversion process.

2.    Delegate to the Corporate Director for Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Mayor, the overall management and timing of the conversion process working with all relevant parties.

3.    Authorise the council to enter into a commercial transfer agreement, if necessary and if agreed by all parties, on suitably agreed terms, as well as any other necessary agreements with relevant third parties, as described in paragraphs 3.1 – 3.11 of the report.

4.    Authorise the council to negotiate with the Academy Sponsor – Lux Mundi Trust and the Department for Education to agree the form and detailed terms of the appropriate documentation in relation to any council owned land to allow for the operation of the Academy from the transfer date.  Depending on the type of land and any directions received from the Secretary of State for Education, this may take the form of freehold transfers or the grant of leases for a period of 125 years for a ‘peppercorn rent’, in accordance with the relevant standard documentation produced by the Department for Education.

5.    Authorise the Divisional Director, Legal (Monitoring Officer), to execute all documentation required to implement the decisions.

6.    Note the equalities considerations as set out in Paragraph 5.1 of the report.