Governors of Elliott School in Putney want to hear the views of parents about proposals to become part of a National Challenge Trust.

The plans would involve setting up a special trust or charity to oversee the long-term direction of the school. Elliott would work closely with three highly-experienced partners, Chestnut Grove School, Ernest Bevin College and Roehampton University. It will also be eligible for extra government funding.

Elliott will continue to be a Foundation School, which means the governing body is responsible for all aspects of the running of the school, including the employment of staff and management of the buildings, but the foundation will be supported by the trust.  The Trust will have final responsibility for the school and will appoint a majority of the governors to a new governing body.

The proposals are being supported by the council, which included them in its strategy for improvement of the school published following an Ofsted inspection in March last year.

Since then Elliott has substantially improved, including a marked rise in exam results. The proportion of students to achieve five or more A* - C grades at GCSE rose nine points. At A-level A-C passes were up 4.3 points to 78.3 per cent - the second highest in the borough.

A new Headteacher has been appointed. Mark Phillips is currently head teacher of de Stafford School in Surrey and will take over at Easter. 

Elliott will remain a specialised language college, and will continue to build on its existing strong reputation for creative and performing arts.  The school will also be extensively remodelled as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme. Detailed planning of this will begin in the autumn.

The six week informal consultation period will include a special event on February 24 from 7.30pm to 9pm at the school. Parents and local people will be able to find out more about the proposals and ask questions.

In March governors will decide whether to issue a formal public legal notice of the proposed change.  There would then be another opportunity to comment on the proposals. If there are no objections the trust will be created and a new governing body appointed in the summer.

To download a consultation document, go to www.wandsworth.gov.uk/elliottschoolconsultation. You can also email elliottconsultation@wandsworth.gov.uk  or write to Freepost LON-10632 Elliott Consultation, Lorraine O’Reilly, Chair of Elliott School Interim Executive Board, Children’s Services Department, Wandsworth Council, Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street, London SW18 2PU

For more information, contact John Johnson, Assistant Director of Children’s Services at Wandsworth Council, on (020) 8871 7891 or email jjohnson@wandsworth.gov.uk.

February 2, 2010