TAVISTOCK College has announced it is working with a number of other schools in Devon to form a multi-academy trust (MAT).

A MAT is a group of schools that work together in a formal arrangement; all schools within a MAT are governed by a single board of trustees responsible for decisions relating to how each school is run.

There will still be a local governing body which will monitor and challenge the quality of education in each school.

Sarah Jones, principal of Tavistock College, said: ’By becoming an academy, Tavistock College can continue to improve the quality of teaching and learning and gain more control over procurement of services and the design of its curriculum.

’By joining a MAT and being part of the initial planning of its structure, we have access to the Department for Education’s Condition Improvement Fund, which can be used over the next five years to improve the buildings at Tavistock College.

’Devon County Council has allowed the buildings to fall into a wholly unacceptable state over the last 20 years and there are no plans forthcoming in the time frame needed to provide capital funds to improve the site.

’There will be more opportunities for teacher development. Every school in the MAT will be a member of the Dartmoor Teaching School Alliance. There will be professional expertise available to schools in the MAT to help them improve in specific areas.

’We consulted with all primary school head teachers and their governing bodies in the Tavistock Co-operative Trust. They are welcome to apply to join the MAT at any time. It is a decision for the governing bodies of those schools to make. Some feeder primary schools are already in MATs.

’It is an exciting time for the college. New partnerships open up many opportunities for schools. The governing body at Tavistock College made the decision unanimously to pursue this direction of travel 12 months ago and they are delighted that the plans are now falling into place.’

Each school within the MAT would become an academy, though locally there would be little change. Schools would still retain their individual names and uniform policies. There would still be a headteacher on-site, responsible for the day-to-day running of the school.

There would still be a local governing body which monitors and challenges the quality of educational provision in the school. The difference is that in future, individual schools will be supported by the Dartmoor MAT’s board of trustees. These trustees would have legal responsibility for monitoring the quality of education across the schools in the MAT and ensure the appropriate resources are made available.

Becoming an academy also means that funding from central government is sent directly to each school which can then decide where all the monies are spent to best effect.

The school would go into the trust with Okehampton College, Holsworthy College, Queen Elizabeth’s in Crediton, Chagford Church of England Primary, Okehampton Primary, Lydford Primary, Boasley Cross Primary, Bridestowe Primary, Exbourne Church of England Primary, North Tawton Primary, South Tawton Primary, Bradford Primary, Black Torrington Church of England Primary, Bridgerule Church of England Primary and Northlew and Ashbury Church of England Primary School.

All of the schools have expressed an interest to form the MAT with the local office of the regional schools commissioner (RSC). The RSC will then ensure the proposals would work and eventually decide if the MAT can go ahead. The next step is for the schools to submit a formal application to the RSC.

Such an application would outline in more detail the governance structure of the MAT and provide basic information about each school. If the application is approved each school will receive a one-off grant to cover the admin and legal cost involved in converting from a local authority-controlled school to an academy.

Part of the process will be consulting with parents, staff and other stakeholders. The schools intend this to be in the form of written briefs and open meetings — though no dates have yet been confirmed for such meetings.

Schools are hoping to have their application accepted by Easter. The conversion process can then typically take six months. At the end, the MAT is formally created and all sign a funding agreement directly with the Department of Education.

Any immediate questions or concerns can be put to the college via the email [email protected]