ConsultatioN
Consultation on a proposed merger between two academy trusts –
Partnership Learning and QED Academy Trust
Report on the Consultation
1.0 Consultation Period
The Consultation began at 12 noon on Friday 22nd September 2023
The Consultation ended at 12 noon on Friday 20th October 2023
2.0 Consultation Document
The full Consultation Document is attached as Appendix 1.
This document was made available to interested parties and the general public on the websites of Partnership Learning – www.partnershiplearning.com – and QED Academy Trust - www.qedacademytrust.org.uk
3.0 Consultation Activities
3.1 Publication: The Full Consultation Document was made available to interested parties and the general public on the websites of Partnership Learning and QED Academy Trust:
3.2 Public Notices were published in local newspapers (or their websites if no longer producing print editions) serving all areas in which either of the two trusts operate academies:
Barking and Dagenham Post
Romford Recorder
East London & West Essex Guardian
Basildon and Southend Echo
Hillingdon and Uxbridge Times
See Appendix 2
3.3 Direct contact, by email, was made with the following consultees, outlining the purpose of the consultation, directing them towards the full consultation document and summarising how responses could be submitted:
- Directors of Education (or equivalent) at all Local Authorities in which either of the two trusts operates academies
- Members of Parliament for all parliamentary constituencies in which either of the two trusts operates academies
- Chairs of Local Governing Boards at all schools within the two trusts
- Headteachers of all schools within the two trusts
- Centrally employed trust staff at the two trusts
3.4 Headteachers of all schools within the two trusts were asked to forward details of the consultation, and how to respond, to all staff at their schools and all parents of pupils at their schools.
3.5 In addition, at the request of the Local Governing Board of Northwood School (a QED Academy Trust school) a special meeting of the Local Governing Board, a staff meeting and a drop-in evening session for parents were held, all attended by the CEOs of the two trusts.
4.0 Response Methods
4.1 Interested parties were informed that the purpose of the consultation was to ascertain the views of interested persons on the proposal for a merger between two academy trusts – Partnership Learning and QED Academy Trust.
Interested parties were therefore invited to give their views and comments on the proposal for merger and to ask any questions which they might have.
They were invited to send any views, comments and questions at any time during the consultation period to either of the following email addresses:
office@partnershiplearning.com
or by post to either of the following addresses:
Chief Executive, Chief Executive,
Partnership Learning, QED Academy Trust,
Parsloes Avenue, Northwood School,
Dagenham, Pinner Road,
RM9 5QS Northwood,
HA6 1QN
5.0 Responses
There were no negative responses to the Consultation.
5.1 There were two written responses:
A supportive response from the equivalent to the Director of Education, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
A question about staff terms and conditions from a member of staff at a QED Academy Trust school
5.2 Parental Drop-in Event – Northwood School
Although the parental drop-in event at Northwood School was attended by only a small number of parents, all those attending were supportive of the proposal after having their questions answered.
5.3 Staff Meeting - Northwood School
Staff attending a staff meeting at Northwood School were able to put a variety of questions about the proposed merger to the CEOs of the two trusts. Overall, after questions had been answered there were no significant concerns expressed.
6.0 Actions following on from the Consultation
Partnership Learning and QED’s Boards of Trustees have read and considered all responses received.
This summary of the operation of, and responses to, the consultation, will be published on the trusts’ websites: www.partnershiplearning.com and www.qedacademytrust.org.uk
The trusts will address any comments received and will explain in this summary how they intend to take into account in their plans the comments received.
7.0 How the Boards of Trustees of the two trusts intend to take into account in their plans the comments received
The Boards of Trustees of the two trusts have noted that there have been no negative responses to the consultation and that the one written response (other than a question) was supportive of the merger.
The two Boards are therefore agreed that the outcome of the consultation should not affect their current plans to proceed to submission of a Business Case to the DfE Regional Director for London.
Appendix 1 - consultation document
Consultation on a proposed merger between two academy trusts –
Partnership Learning and QED Academy Trust
1.0 Introduction
● QED is a successful four-school academy trust in Hillingdon. In 2022 QED trustees reviewed their
trust’s strategic direction and decided to explore various options - including the possibility of a
merger, which became their preferred option.
● QED’s criteria for a merger partner were: a successful, medium-sized academy trust in London
committed to delegation, with experience in primary, secondary and special education and the
capacity and culture to integrate QED into their trust. QED researched a number of potential trusts
and identified Partnership Learning – a 13 school academy trust with schools mainly in the London
Borough of Barking and Dagenham but also in Havering, Waltham Forest and Southend - as a
particularly good fit as a potential merger partner. Initial contacts between the two trusts confirmed
that Partnership Learning was responsive to exploring the benefits which the greater scale of a
combined trust could bring.
● During the 2022-23 academic year an increasingly close relationship developed between the two
trusts, including Partnership Learning providing some estate management and school improvement services for QED. The two Boards of Trustees looked carefully at the potential mutual benefits that a merger could bring and both Boards decided to take a merger proposal forward, firstly to consultation with interested parties and subsequently, subject to the outcome of consultation, to a formal application to the Department for Education.
This document sets out the opportunities for interested parties to give their views on the proposal,
outlined in more detail below.
2.0 QED Academy Trust
Year of formation: 2011
Current no of schools: 4
Number of pupils: 3,000
Range of schools: Secondary (3) and Primary (1)
Ofsted Gradings: All Good or Outstanding
Local Authority Locations: Hillingdon
Since its formation in July 2011, the Trust has grown from a single academy and is now responsible
for a junior and three secondary schools in the London Borough of Hillingdon.
Although each school retains its unique identity, the Trust seeks to deliver consistently high
standards of education by drawing upon the shared experience of its teaching and support staff as
well as executive leadership, local governors and trustees.
3.0 Partnership Learning
Year of formation: 2015
Current no of schools: 13
Number of pupils: 10,000
Range of schools: Secondary (4) Primary (5) All-through (2) Special (1) and UTC (1)
Ofsted Gradings: All Good or Outstanding apart from two working towards
Local Authority Locations: Barking & Dagenham (9) Waltham Forest (1) Havering (2) Southend (1)
Since its formation in February 2015 Partnership Learning has grown to oversee thirteen schools,
mainly in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and neighbouring boroughs.
The trust’s growth has been achieved through a mixture of:
- establishing new schools
- taking on and improving under-performing schools
- incorporating the strengths of existing Good or Outstanding schools
The trust believes that Local Governing Boards and Headteachers generally know best what their
schools need. However, the trust also believes in the benefits of schools learning from each other
and therefore actively encourages and supports collaborative innovation.
4.0 Trust Compatibility
As the two trusts have worked closer together it has become clear that they already share a number of key approaches to overseeing schools:
- Similar schemes of delegation to Local Governing Boards
- Wide-ranging powers and responsibilities devolved to school level, including decisions about
ethos, organisation and budgets - Adherence to national and locally-agreed terms, conditions and salary structures for all staff
5.0 Benefits of proposed merger
- Increased capacity to support schools, both with school improvement and back-office functions
- Enhanced opportunities to share good practice across a wider range of schools
- Complementary strengths - QED able to provide additional secondary expertise through its two
strong secondary schools and Partnership Learning enhanced primary expertise to assist QED’s only primary and strong SEND support via its Special School. - Improved recruitment and retention of staff, as they would have enhanced career opportunities to progress across more schools and central services roles in a larger trust.
- Reduced average costs for central services as the trust grows – leaving more money to spend at
school level. - Additional significant annual funding for school building improvements
6.0 Possible Risks and Mitigations
- Distance: Although the trusts currently operate in different London boroughs, drive times between most schools in the trusts are approximately one hour and in-person collaboration can easily be enhanced by virtual meetings. Distance has not been an issue during the past year of collaborative work between the trusts.
- Trust Cultures/Structures: Although the trusts have developed separately, working together over the last 12 months has confirmed that structures, systems and cultures are very closely aligned, including staff terms and conditions, delegated authority to schools and approaches to school improvement.
7.0 Proposed implementation of the merger between Partnership Learning and QED Academy Trust
- QED would integrate into Partnership Learning. The formal process would be likely to take effect by 1st May 2024.
- For a transitional period, to ensure implementation of the merger has been fully embedded, the
current Chief Executive Officer and Chief Finance Officer of QED would continue in key leadership roles within the merged trust structure. - QED’s academies would integrate into Partnership Learning. However, leadership, staffing and Local Governing Boards at QED schools would remain as current.
8.0 Implications for Staff
- All current employees at QED schools would transfer across to Partnership Learning as their new employer.
- However, Partnership Learning adheres to the same national and locally-agreed terms, conditions, salary structures and pension arrangements as QED, so QED staff should be reassured that there will be no change in their current contractual arrangements. In any case, statutory arrangements for the Protection of Employment Rights (TUPE) guarantee existing terms and conditions for QED staff.
- There would be no implications for current Partnership Learning school or central staff.
9.0 Implications for pupils and parents/carers
There would be no implications of a merger for pupils and their parents/carers in either QED or
Partnership Learning schools (other than the benefits outlined above) because they would operate
as now, under their current headteachers and Local Governing Boards.
10.0 Implications for Local Governing Boards (LGBs)
Local Governing Boards in both QED and Partnership Learning would continue to operate as
currently as both trusts currently have very similar schemes of delegation.
11.0 The Consultation Process
11.1 Key Dates for the Consultation
Consultation Period Starts: 12 noon on Friday 22nd September 2023
Consultation Period Ends: 12 noon on Friday 20th October 2023
11.2 Actions following on from the Consultation
Partnership Learning and QED’s Boards of Trustees will read and consider all responses received.
The trusts will produce a summary of the responses to the consultation, which will be published on
their websites: www.partnershiplearning.com and www.qedacademytrust.org.uk
The trusts will address comments received and will explain in the summary on their websites how
they intend to take into account in their plans the comments received.
12.0 How to contact the Trusts and find out more
You may find out more about the two trusts and the proposal by visiting the Trust websites:
www.partnershiplearning.com
www.qedacademytrust.org.uk
or by emailing either of the Trusts, at:
office@partnershiplearning.com
info@qedacademytrust.org.uk
13.0 Consultation Views and Comments
The purpose of this consultation is to ascertain the views of interested parties on the proposal for a
merger between the two academy trusts – Partnership Learning and QED Academy Trust.
You are therefore invited to give your views and comments on the proposal for merger and to ask
any questions which you may have.
You may send your views, comments and questions at any time during the consultation period to either of the following email addresses:
office@partnershiplearning.com
info@qedacademytrust.org.uk
or by post to either of the following addresses:
Chief Executive, Chief Executive,
Partnership Learning, QED Academy Trust,
Parsloes Avenue, Northwood School,
Dagenham, Pinner Road,
RM9 5QS Northwood,
HA6 1QN
Appendix 2 - Text of public notice
Public consultation on a proposed merger between two academy trusts – QED Academy Trust and Partnership Learning
QED is a four-school academy trust in the London Borough of Hillingdon. Partnership Learning is a thirteen-school academy trust with schools mainly in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham but also in Havering, Waltham Forest and Southend. The Boards of Trustees of the two trusts have been exploring the mutual benefits that a merger between the two could bring and both Boards have decided to take a merger proposal forward. Potential benefits of a merged larger trust include: increased capacity to support schools and share good practice, improved recruitment and retention of staff, reduced average costs for central services and additional funding for school building improvements.
Consultation Period Starts: 12 noon on Friday 22nd September 2023
Consultation Period Ends: 12 noon on Friday 20th October 2023
For more information, a copy of the full consultation document and an explanation of ways to give your views, please visit www.qedacademytrust.org.uk or www.partnershiplearning.com or email QED at info@qedacademytrust.org.uk or Partnership Learning at office@partnershiplearning.com