Can Your School Be Trusted?

The number of schools considering changing status to become a Trust School is gradually increasing. Of those that have taken the step, none, to the writers knowledge, have been reported in the press as experiencing a drop in standards, have become the subject of financial mismanagement or have abused their staff and employees as a result. On the contrary, very little is reported at all. Why is this? A possible reason is that to the outsider there is very little change. The change will show gradually over a period of time and that is how it should be if the school is building up new strengths and establishing new directions. It is equally the case where an existing project is being extended and developed. The changes and advantages of Trust status are intended to be long term, not short lived, and the real test will be in the years to come if the question is asked ‘Could we have achieved X, Y or Z if we had not become a Trust School?’

So, is the ability to change to Trust Status open to every school? The answer is ostensibly yes. There are no qualifying criteria other than it is only possible for a school to have one foundation or Trust. Voluntary Schools are in this position already so they would be unable to form part of a second Trust with other schools looking to make the transition. However, where the schools looking to make the change were happy to adopt the existing voluntary schools trust or foundation as their own, this could be possible. Otherwise, any community ( primary or secondary), special ( primary or secondary ), foundation or even Independent school can become a Trust School as long as they are within the maintained sector.

Just because a school can become a Trust School does not necessarily mean that they will. For every one that does, there will be one that prefers to stay as it is. It is an independent choice that will reflect the character of the school and its individual ethos. Just as it is being increasingly recognised that when it comes to Teaching and Learning, one size does not fit all, the same applies to the status of our schools. What is important is that the range of options is there to choose from.

Published 07/09/2009. The author of this article is Julia Green