"In this school everybody is important"

The Governing Body and Foundation Trust at The Martin Wilson School & Early Years Centre have made the decision to convert to an academy. The Academy trust they have chosen to join is SHINE Academies based in Wolverhampton. Our present target date for conversion is the 1st of February 2025.

We are looking forward to the opportunity to work collaboratively with the other schools across the trust and see that joining SHINE Academies will offer not only the pupils of the school but the staff greater opportunities. 

SHINE Academies is a well-established multi academy trust made up of four schools. SHINE has also been working with another Shropshire school that is due to be converting soon. The conversion of The Martin Wilson School and Early Years Centre to an academy will formalise the working relationship with the school becoming part of SHINE Academies.

Find out more about Shine at:  https://www.shineacademies.co.uk/

In order to ensure there is an effective transition for the school and that any questions pupils, staff and parents/carers have are answered prior to the conversion to an academy actually taking place. The Governing Body and Foundation Trust along with SHINE staff will be engaging with staff, parents and carers. Staff will have an additional consultation in regard to their transfer to the Trust on the same terms and conditions. 

Thank you to all who engaged in our consultation process, your comments were very helpful. Although the consultation has closed we are still happy to address any ideas or concerns any member of our community have.

Why SHINE Academies? 

SHINE Academies has a strong track record of school improvement. Northwood Park and Villiers Primary School are both rated as Good, as is Lodge Farm in Walsall. The strength of leadership in driving school improvement is highlighted in all Ofsted inspection reports. 

What will it mean? 

In practice it will mean that: 

• The Martin Wilson Primary School & Early Years Centre will become part of a strong and successful multi academy trust which will ensure stability of leadership and governance in the school. 

• There will be greater opportunities to share expertise and best practice across all the schools. 

• There will be a firm focus upon the journey of further improving the quality of teaching and learning and in turn pupil progress and outcomes. 

• There will be greater opportunities for staff continuous professional development and career progression across the trust. 

• There will be no change to the admissions criteria for the school. 

• All schools will continue to have their own Ofsted inspection. 

• The reporting of standards will remain separate for each school. 

• Staff terms and conditions will not change 

What will it mean for the children? 

On a day to day basis the proposal will have no impact on pupils other than clear expectations around the quality of teaching and learning they receive. There will be opportunities to share staff across the schools, which will give access to a much larger pool of knowledge and the chance to share specialist expertise. Nobody will be forced to work at another school however. 

There will be greater opportunity to use school resources and budgets more effectively with regard to the purchasing of goods and services which provides opportunities for more innovative use of resources across the schools. 

What will it mean for parents/ carers? 

The schools will continue to operate as usual and parents/carers will continue to communicate with the school in the same way they do now. 

In terms of school uniform, Martin Wilson School & Early Years Centre will retain its individual identity and uniform. 

Admissions to the school will continue under the current arrangements and be unaffected by this proposal. Parents and carers will continue to apply for a place at the school of their choice in the usual manner. 

What will it mean for staff? 

On a day to day basis there will be no difference to the current arrangement that has been in place for some months. Staff will transfer on their existing terms and conditions although the Trust may declare ‘Measures’ for transferring staff. 

There will be opportunities for closer working between staff for the benefit of the children. This cooperation will allow them more chance to get involved at another school in the Trust and over time this will provide wider career opportunities. Staff networking will enable ideas and good practice to be shared. 

Future proposed Leadership and Governance of the Federation 

There is an existing Academy governance structure in place for SHINE Academies. There will be a local governing body established once the conversion has taken place to ensure the views of the local community are represented. 

What does it mean for admissions? 

Admissions to all schools will remain unchanged. Parents and carers will continue to apply for a place at the school of their choice in the usual manner. 

Will the ethos of the school change after federation? 

The ethos and day to day feel of the school is built around the relationship between pupils, staff and parents/ carers. We are proud of the environment and community that surrounds The Martin Wilson School & Early Years Centre. The school will have shared high expectations for pupils and staff across all of the Trust.