Potters Green Primary School
12 November 2024 Parents' Consultation

Present: 10 Parents
G Deery - Headteacher, Potters Green
S Dutton - Chair of Governors, Potter Green
M Marr – CEO, Castle Phoenix Trust
H Harrison - Director of Finance & Operations, Castle Phoenix Trust

Following a short presentation from the CEO, parents were invited to raise questions.

Q Why join a Trust?
Headteacher advised they had been looking for about a year. They have worked hard to get to where they are and want to sustain it; working collaboratively brings strength.
Recruitment is currently hard and the Trust will provide CPD for teachers who will then want to stay at the school. Potters Green have looked at a lot of academies; CPT is the best fit for the school.
CEO gave some background explaining that local authorities no longer had the money to fully support stand alone schools. Funding has already been secured which enable a Maths specialist from CPT in Potters Green for half a day a week. Being part of a Trust enable efficiencies.

Q Does CPT have its own supply teachers?
No but is an area of consideration. CEO gave another primary school as an example. When they joined the Trust, we overstaffed to enable consistency in provision for classes.

Q Does CPT have its own curriculum?
CEO commented that each schools’ curriculum is slightly different to reflect an individual school’s community but key aspects are expected to be consistent. Increasingly there is a consistent approach and scheme of learning to aid collaboration and sharing of expertise and resources.

Q How will admissions work?
CEO confirmed it would stay the same. Any future changes would be shared with parents.
Subsequent questions raised on admissions:
o Do they have to go to a Trust school? No
o Can they go to a Trust school? Yes
We follow the local authority admissions guidance but Castle Phoenix Trust will be the admission body.

Q Will the uniform change?
CEO – This is a school decision. If there were changes to a school uniform, our Trust would not expect parents to fund this change.

Q Do you have your own timetable?
CEO – that is a school decision.

Q What does the Trust gain and will it cost more?
CEO – We want to make a wider difference to children in Coventry and have the capacity to do this. It also provides increased opportunities for staff across all our schools. For example, secondments to another school.

The CEO asked what the parents were worried about?
Admissions
Consistency in teaching
The CEO asked what the parents wanted?
• Roof on the pool
• Tennis Court
• Reading books – books are very old. CEO advised that the Trust had a focus on reading, oracy and digital technology; children have a right to good teaching and high aspirations.
• Central hub for homework.
• Enhanced offers/ experience for extra- curricular such as inter school football tournaments