FAQs

What is an academy? 

An academy is a non-fee paying state-school which is funded by, and accountable to, the Government rather than a local authority (LA). To help the running of that school, there is a board of independent trustees or governors, and the money for the running of that school is paid directly to the school. 

What is a multi-academy trust?

A Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) is a group of academies that has come together under a single legal and governance structure.

Will joining Trinity makes our schools less accountable to our community? 

This is something that we will be considering in depth. Different Trusts operate in different ways, and we have been careful to ensure that the Trust we have identified has:

• A group of members and trustees who are from our locality
• A commitment to retaining our individual local school's governing bodies, and delegating appropriate levels of responsibility to them. 
• Are fully supportive of PTAs, and ensure that funds for each individual PTA remain with their schools.

Will any of the schools have to change their name, uniform or identity?

They won’t. Trinty has confirmed that there is no intention to change the name and identity of the schools. 

Will the vision and ethos change at each of the schools?

Each school will shape its own vision and ethos, reflecting its unique character and community, in line with the Trust’s vision and ethos, so that together we share a common purpose and direction.

Will the curriculum change at my school?

Irrespective of this proposed merger, our curriculums would be changing anyway. The Government has recently announced the outcome of a curriculum review - and all schools in the country will have to make changes.

By being part of a Trust we have greater capacity to maximise the opportunities in these changes.

Will any staff leave if we merge Trusts? 

We hope not. In fact, a major drive is to provide better CPD (continuing professional development) and enhanced career opportunities for all of our staff. 

Will staff have changes to their contracts, pay, pensions or working conditions?

If the transfer went ahead, staff would become an employee of Trinity, as per the TUPE process and associated protections. Trinity  is committed to the national pay and conditions.

Staff would continue to access their existing pension schemes - including TPS and LGPS.

Will there be any change to admissions policy? 

The current arrangements, which are determined by the local authority, would remain in place. 

Will the term dates change? 

This is not anticipated. Any changes to current arrangements would always go out to full consultation with all stakeholders as we appreciate and understand how difficult that would be if you had children at more than one school. 

Will our schools get more funding?

Our schools will still be funded on a per-pupil basis irrespective of what our governance arrangement is.

This is less about will we get more funding, and more about whether we can do more with the funding that we do have. Being part of a larger organisation will support our operational resilience and we will have access to greater support.

Being part of a larger MAT will, however, potentially give us access to some additional funding streams.