Following the progress of two outstanding schools who have gone through the process of becoming one of the new style of academies, through video diaries that monitor and reveal how staff, leaders and pupils are coping with the changes.

Becoming an Academy

Monitoring one primary school's move towards becoming an academy

A primary school debates the merits and affects of becoming an academy. Headteacher, Andrew Carter, at South Farnham School, talks about the long process of becoming an academy and how a possible merger with another primary school might also delay their progress. Sue Shoveller, deputy head, talks about how the LA have been helping them to clarify what would happen if they were to become an academy. She points out that the LA's Buyback financial arrangements is under threat if schools leave their care. Phil Austen-Jones an assistant headteacher, is thinking about VAT, maternity, buildings insurance and personnel issues. South Farnham is an early adopter, so their governing body is looking at all the details before agreeing to academy status. Andrew introduces his school bursar , the key member of his academy planning team Claire Booth, who talks about the importance of having systems in place from the start, so that the school's budget can deliver as much as possible for the children.

Catching up with South Farnham

A progress update on a brand new academy

The Westlands Academy Trust officially opened on 1 September 2010 and this video diary provides an update on their progress since then. Headteacher, Jon Whitcombe, and his deputy, Simon Cox, describe how the school is getting used to the changes and how they've settled into being an academy. Jon talks about giving all the staff their P45s, to confirm the change of employer, and says how some of the business terms, like Chief Executive and Directors, don't work in a school. Jon is happy to keep his original job title as headteacher and is busy working alongside his team of governors to allocate their new budget. Understanding the real freedom of academy status means the chance to be more entrepreneurial, and Jon has thoughts for how his curriculum might change to reflect the needs and interests of the children in his care. The staff at Westlands Academy Trust also comment on how they feel about becoming an academy.

Catching up with Westlands

The next phase for South Farnham in becoming an academy

Governors from outstanding primary school South Farnham talk about their journey in becoming an academy as they merge with a local infants school. Headteacher, Andrew Carter, talks about the process of merging with a local primary school before they sign the paperwork which will make them an academy with over 700 pupils. The decision to become an academy is made by the school's governing body. Some of whom have struggled with the decision but have decided on balance to embrace the changes. Initially, it looked as though the disadvantages were outweighing the advantages, with concerns about staff terms and conditions, buying back services from the council, use of the land and VAT. The governing body at South Farnham have chosen to become an academy and are preparing to take on the additional responsibilities that come with being the trustees of a multi-million pound trust.

South Farnham - The Next Chapter

An outstanding primary begins its transition to academy status

An outstanding primary school begins the transition to being a new style academy, with the headteacher sharing his experiences, and outlining his concerns as well as what he sees as the advantages of academy status. South Farnham School headteacher Andrew Carter talks about the process of becoming an academy and why they haven't signed on the dotted line yet. He also explains the paperwork involved and how the school has consulted with staff and parents. Andrew explains the importance of having a chartered accountant as the school's bursar and predicts that his governors will be ready to give the go-ahead change to academy status within the year. It is the new freedom of academy status that appeals to the school. Ideas being considered include opening up the school 48 weeks of the year, creating a gifted and talented music school, and encouraging good teachers to stay with bonus payments.

South Farnham's First Steps

How transition to an academy has changed an outstanding secondary

The Westlands Academy Trust reveals life since its transformation to an academy on 1 September 2010, focusing on its relationship with its federated primary school and how this is developing. An outstanding secondary school with its federated primary school, Westlands Academy Trust is enjoying the new freedoms and flexibility of becoming an academy. This video diary details the changes the school is going through, and reveals how staff are getting to grips with their new status with headteacher Jon Whitcombe talks about their work with the new primary school. The primary school is developing and to cement the relationships between the two schools, assistant headteacher, and now federation development manager, Claire Wood, has been working 50 per cent of her time at the primary. The Year 6 students talk about what they think about having numeracy and literacy classes at the high school and how they can see it is giving them the confidence to prepare for their transfer to secondary school. Jon explains that the process of becoming an academy has been an evolution, not a revolution, and the additional budget he is now receiving directly from the government has been very welcome.

Westlands - The Next Chapter

An outstanding secondary beings its transition to academy status

An outstanding secondary school begins its transition to a new style academy, with staff and headteacher outlining the process and sharing their experiences of their first month as an academy. The Westlands Academy Trust officially opened on 1 September 2010. This video diary details the changes that went on and reveals how staff are easing into their new status. Headteacher Jon Whitcombe talks about the process of becoming an academy and the tight deadlines in confirming the change for the start of the school year. He explains the paperwork involved, the necessity of employing a great solicitor and his fears that bank errors would leave his staff unpaid. His staff also comment on how they feel the first month as an academy has gone, and the video also shows how the academy is working with a struggling feeder primary school.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Top series

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Catching up with South Farnham

Catching up with Westlands

South Farnham - The Next Chapter

South Farnham's First Steps

Westlands - The Next Chapter

Westlands' First Steps