Establishment of a School Federation incorporating Eveswell and Somerton Primary Schools
The governing bodies of Eveswell Primary School and Somerton Primary School, together with Newport City Council, propose to use the powers granted under the Federation of Maintained Schools (Wales) Regulations 2014 to establish The Eveswell and Somerton Primary School Partnership.
Download the Report to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills (pdf)
Download the associated Decision Schedule (pdf)
Download the Fairness and Equality Impact Assessment (pdf)
Consultation
Consulation took place 3 June - 14 July 2019
The Federation of Maintained Schools (Wales) Regulations 2014 outline a statutory requirement to seek the views of stakeholders on federation proposals.
Appropriate stakeholders for this purpose are defined as:
- the staff of both schools
- the parents, carers and guardians of pupils attending both schools
- the pupils attending both schools (exercised via the two school councils)
- teaching and support staff unions representing teachers and staff at both schools
- local ward members for both schools
- the headteachers of all schools within the Llanwern and Lliswerry cluster areas
- the Education Achievement Service for South East Wales (EAS)
- Estyn
Download the letter to stakeholders (pdf)
Download the consultation document (pdf)
Download the consultation response pro-forma (pdf)
This information was also available on the Eveswell Primary school and Somerton Primary school websites, with hard copies available for inspection at both schools.
The consultation period ran from 3 June to 14 July 2019.
The consultation process was an opportunity for people to learn about the proposal, ask questions and make comments that were recorded and summarised in a consultation report (pdf).
The report will be considered by the governing bodies and the council in determining whether or not to implement the proposal.
The proposal
The governing bodies of Eveswell Primary School and Somerton Primary School together with Newport City Council propose to use the powers granted under the Federation of Maintained Schools (Wales) Regulations 2014 to establish The Eveswell and Somerton Primary School Partnership (the Federation).
The term ‘federation’ describes a formal and legal agreement by which the schools involved work together in formal partnership with shared governance under a single governing body.
The existing governing bodies will be dissolved and replaced by a new, single governing body with strategic oversight of both schools.
The two schools have worked on a collaborative basis since September 2016 and have shared a single executive headteacher during this time. The governing bodies have consulted with the council and all parties are in support of the proposal.
The aim of the Federation is for the two schools to work in partnership to:
- develop the excellent shared practice that guarantees outstanding experiences and increased opportunities for pupils and staff
- develop the common goals and reflective approaches to teaching and learning that will ensure that both communities benefit from a quality education
This will ensure significant positive outcomes and improved standards for both school communities.
The proposed name of the Federation is The Eveswell and Somerton Primary School Partnership.
If the proposal is approved, the federation will commence 1 January 2020.
Final determination
Both governing bodies considered the consultation report and agreed that they wished to proceed with the proposal.
As a result, the final determination was referred to Newport City Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills who has agreed that the proposal should be implemented as outlined in the consultation document.
An Instrument of Government (a legal document that records the constitution of a governing body) will now be developed for the federated governing body in order to elect and appoint governors as appropriate.
This will include the chair and vice-chair of the federation.
The federation, known as The Eveswell and Somerton Primary School Partnership will be formally established with effect from 1 January 2020 at which point the governing bodies for the two individual schools will be dissolved.
Download the Report of the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills (pdf)
Download the updated Fairness and Equality Impact Assessment (pdf)
Download the associated Decision Schedule (pdf)
Download the final decision notification letter (pdf)
TRA111518 19/11/2019