Dear Parents, Carers and Stakeholders
Conversion to Academy Status within the Athena Schools Trust
I am pleased to inform you that on 1st October 2018, Stoughton Infant School converted to academy status and joined a multi-academy trust called the Athena Schools Trust.
Stoughton Infant School has been working with a group of other local schools to establish the Athena Schools Trust as a new multi-academy trust to support schools in the Guildford area.
An extensive process of consultation and due diligence took place during the spring and summer of 2018, the over-riding concern of governors being to ensure that our school continues to provide the best possible standard of education and care for our children.
Some specific points were raised and clarified through the consultation process:
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The school will retain its character and will continue to look, feel and be the same as it is now with the same uniform, school name, school times, holiday pattern and admission policy.
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The MAT organisation does not affect your choice of secondary school for your child.
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The Headteacher and Local Governing Body will continue to lead our school on a daily basis as they do now, and parents will continue to be represented on the Local Governing Body.
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The MAT arrangements will share some services across the schools which will help them be more efficient and make sure that funding is focused on teaching, learning and support for children.
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Staff have been transferred to the MAT on existing terms and conditions, under TUPE regulations. We hope that the new opportunities afforded by the MAT will reassure and encourage staff that they remain a vital part of the school’s commitment to our children.
Governors believe that academy status within Athena Schools Trust is the best way to support the school in continuing to develop and improve, and that working together within the Trust will bring benefits to teaching and learning which will contribute to children’s achievement. We are therefore pleased that the schools has obtained academy status, and are looking forward to working with the other schools to ensure that we offer the best possible education to our pupils.