Memorandum of Agreement

Branston Community College - Business and Enterprise College
Cherry Willingham School - Sports College
Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School - Language College
North Kesteven School - Performing Arts College
Robert Pattinson School - Language, Science and Mathematics College
Saint Peter and Saint Paul School - Science College
Yarborough School - Business and Enterprise College

The Schools named above will work together as members of the Lincoln Specialist Schools Group in order to raise standards for the combined student body.

We shall achieve this by working together to share ideas and good practice through,

  • providing students access to a wider range of appropriate courses and special events to enhance and enrich their education,
  • the Every Child Matters agenda and Extended Provision initiative,
  • developing a Virtual Academy to include special facilities available to all members of the group and mechanisms to share course provision,
  • improved staff CPD and meetings to share experience and expertise,
  • developing new joint services to support Learning Care and Nurture needs of our students.

Governance and Management

There will be a Joint Governors Committee with responsibility to promote, develop and monitor

  • cooperation amongst the member schools,
  • the development of Joint Services and Group partnerships with other Bodies,
  • Extended provision across the Group of Schools
  • propose strategic plans for the Group to be ratified by the School Governing Bodies,
  • Monitor the correct use of funds raised donated for Group Activities.

Membership of the Joint Committee will be:

  • the Chairman of Governors or nominated alternative Governor of each school
  • the Head of Each school
  • the Chief Executive, if not already included as Head of one of the schools,
  • Other such associate members and advisers as may from time to time be agreed by the Joint Committee to serve for periods of between one and four years.

A Clerk to the Joint Governors Committee will be appointed and a Chairman elected annually from amongst the Governor members of that Committee

The Joint Governors Committee will meet at least three times per year and will operate in accordance with the Guidance on School Governance Regulations 2003.

Joint Management Group

There will be a Joint Management Group consisting of the Headteachers and the Chief Executive, if not already included as one of the Headteachers.

The Joint Management Group will be responsible to the Joint Governors Committee for the development of cooperation within the group and the programme of Joint Activities.

The Joint Management Group will meet at least six times per year.

A Joint Company

A Joint Company will be established on a not for profit charitable basis to support the work of the Joint Committee.

It may employ staff and hold property intended for the joint use of the Group.

Staffing

The Clerk, Chief Executive and other staff as may be employed by the Joint Company or Group Schools and seconded to the Joint Governors Committee to support the work of the Group.   Staffing levels will be agreed by the Joint Governors Committee and the Group will reimburse the employer in each case for the use of the staff involved.

Funding

Where Funds have been generated by the activities of the Joint Governors Committee, Joint Company or Joint Management Group for the purposes of the Group the Funds will be used for the purposes of the Group.

The Governing Bodies will contribute to Joint Fund on an annual basis as agreed for the purposes of the Joint Governors Committee.

Joining the Group

A School wishing to join the Group may do so providing the Governing Body of the applicant School has voted in favour of joining and the Joint Governors Committee of the Group accepts the application unanimously.

Leaving the Group

If the Governing Body and Headteacher of one of the Group of Schools determines that they should leave the Group this will be accepted by the Joint Governors Body on behalf of the Group given notice of one year.   If any capital investment has been made at the school then reparation will be made to the Joint Governing Committee on behalf of the Group of Schools.  Such reparation will take account of the time since the investment and the capital demands placed upon the Joint Governors Committee to maintain services provided through that investment to other members of the group.