PUBLIC CONSULTATION – PROPOSAL FOR BENSON COMMUNITY SCHOOL TO JOIN OASIS COMMUNITY LEARNING

We invite the community to join us in discussing the future of our school as it considers converting to an academy.

Consultation Start Date:        6th  November 2024

Consultation End Date:          2nd December 2024

Proposed Conversion Date: 1 January 2025

About the Conversion:

Following an Ofsted inspection in September 2023 which resulted in a judgement of “Inadequate” and the subsequent issue of an Academy Order by the Secretary of State for Education; the Department for Education (DfE), the Governing body of Benson Community School (BCS) and Birmingham City Council (BCC) agreed that Oasis Community Learning should provide school improvement with a view to BCS joining the Oasis family. 

Oasis Community Learning have been undertaking due diligence over the past months to ensure that all stakeholders have a holistic understanding of the acquisition which includes the educational, financial and premises position, before deciding to proceed. 

On 31 October 2024, the Oasis Community Learning Board of Trustees agreed in principle to proceed with the conversion of Benson Community School to Oasis.

What is an academy/multi academy trust?:

Academies are state funded schools independent of local authority control.  A multi academy trust (MAT) is a structure where multiple academies come together as a single trust.  MATs are managed by a single board of trustees responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and financial management of all the academies within the trust. Resources are shared and utilised efficiently across the schools.  Academies within a MAT receive their funding directly from the Department for Education (DfE), which is then distributed among the schools according to their needs.  The primary aim of a MAT is to improve educational standards by fostering collaboration and sharing best practices among the schools. This setup allows for more consistent and effective school improvement strategies.  While MATs operate independently of local authorities, they are still subject to inspections and assessments by Ofsted, ensuring they maintain high educational standards.  MATs are not-for-profit companies and often have charitable status, meaning they reinvest any surplus funds back into the education of their students.

Who are Oasis Community Learning:

Oasis Community Learning is one Multi Academy Trust, a growing family of 52 academies across the country.  We continually support every individual, share best practice and aim to drive continual improvement across the trust, whilst leading in education.    The overall vision for every part of Oasis is for community. A place where everyone is included.  As well as delivering first-class, innovative education, we seek to build a ‘Community Hub’ in each of the areas where we work; creating safe and inspiring local neighbourhoods that provide integrated and diverse services to benefit the whole person and whole community.

Oasis Community Learning will enhance opportunities, raise aspirations and heighten achievement for children, parents and families in the local area. The vision is for a local, multi-agency, community partnership that is totally inclusive – engaging public, voluntary and business sectors in the establishment of a centre of excellence for education and lifelong learning.

Oasis will bring the wider cost and resource benefits of its growing group of academies to the Academy, securing greater efficiency and scope in back office provision and wider educational guidance and skills than is available within one school.  This proposal will also develop a strong partnership with the proposed Oasis Academies in Birmingham and with the wider Oasis family of schools.

Oasis always offers inclusive education designed around and for, the community in which it is located. Oasis will serve local children and will follow the Local Authority’s admissions policy, as well as accepting pupils regardless of faith or ability.

Community Feedback:

This consultation is an opportunity for parents, students, staff, and community members to share their views. We encourage everyone to participate, ensuring that the decision reflects the community’s values and needs.

Consultation is now closed