CLT Prospectus 2022

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Prospectus
2022 - 2023
for all is our shared responsibility

High Achieveme

Together Towards WELCOME TO THE
Excellence CHILTERN LEARNING TRUST
ambition
Chiltern Learning Trust (CLT) is an
and inspiration outstanding progressive multi-academy
trust. The schools within the Trust are
thriving and moving forward.

Our Trust also includes the Chiltern
Training Group (CTG), a high quality Initial
Teacher Training provider, which is one
of only a very few ‘outstanding’ school
based providers in the country. Within our Trust we run
the Chiltern Teaching School Hub (CTSH). This support is
through professional development, delivery of all national
programmes and school to school support, for 650 schools
and eight Local Authorities.

We are committed to excellent standards of teaching and
learning and helping raise the attainment of all learners.
We work in partnership with a variety of local and national
organisations, contributing towards the self-improving
system. Our Trust also has a growing national reputation and
in the last five years, we have received visits from Michael
Gove, David Cameron and Theresa May. Also, our local MPs
visit regularly. These high profile visitors and many others
come into our schools to observe outstanding practice and
to learn about some of our innovative and forward thinking
approaches to teaching and learning.

Chiltern Learning Trust | Prospectus

Ardley Hill

ACADEMY

The Trust has fifteen schools across Bedfordshire, CHALLNEY
several of which are outstanding, and we are proud that
in the last five years our schools have topped the GCSE High School for Boys
results tables for the county. We were recently ranked in
the top ten performing Trusts in the country and top 5 for CHALLNEY HIGH
non-selective schools. We are also recognised nationally for SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
our community links and vision.
Kempston
The practicalities of the Trust arrangement enable us to
retain a strong central team of specialists with expertise ACADEMY
in quality assurance and data, finance, marketing, facilities
management, staff training and development, technology MARSTON VALE
for learning and human resources. These high quality
professionals help ensure that any school within, or joining, MIDDLE SCHOOL
our Trust can focus on delivering high quality learning and
outstanding pupil outcomes. We ensure schools day-to-day
operations are at an outstanding level.

Chiltern Learning Trust is committed to being an
outstanding Multi-Academy Trust, and will invest in its
staff so that the outcomes for our children are exceptional.
The schools and the CLT are in healthy financial positions
and we look to the future with excitement and anticipation.
We believe our Trust accelerates and supports schools to be
even better and truly outstanding. If you have any questions,
or would like to visit us, then please get in touch.

Adrian Rogers

Bed, MA, NPQH, NLE
Chief Executive
National Leader in Education

Chiltern Learning Trust | Prospectus OUR VISION

Our vision is to educate, empower and inspire generations of
children through a network of outstanding schools that are
recognised at a local, regional and national level as being the
absolute benchmark in teaching and learning. High achievement
for all is our shared resposnsibility.

Our schools will be recognised as the most foward thinking and
innovative organisations within the communities that they serve,
and all children will leave our care as well rounded individuals
who have achieved high levels of academic success and are well
prepared for life in modern Britain.

OUR ORGANISATIONS

Ardley Hill Academy
Ardley Hill Academy is a 520 place primary school. It also has
a small ASD provision and operates a pre-school. The school
converted to a primary school from a Lower School in 2015 and
became an Academy that year. The school received a Grade
3 in its last Ofsted inspection but received two very positive
monitoring reports in 2021. A new senior team started in April
2020.

Cedars Upper School
Cedars Upper School was graded as good in all areas by Ofsted in
2017 and has 1050 students on roll. It is a 13-18 upper school and
takes students from five main middle schools, as well as many
out of catchment students. In 2018, the school’s A Level results
were the best in the country. Considerable work has been carried
out on the site and there have been several new senior leaders
appointed.

Challney High School for Boys
Challney High School for Boys is graded as ‘Outstanding’ by
Ofsted (December 2019). It has 1100 pupils and is a 11-16 school.
The school is recognised for the excellent achievements of
its students in terms of both progress and attainment – with
four consecutive Ofsted outstanding judgements. Challney has
received a number of national accolades, including Teaching
School designation in the first cohort, in 2011. CTG are hosted
here.

Challney High School for Girls
Challney High School for Girls is an 11-16 girls school with 1050
pupils. The school is on an upward curve of development with
its examination results in 2017 putting it in the top 10% of
schools nationally for progress and the top 20% in 2018 and 2019.
GCSE results have improved markedly in the last three years.
The school moved from Ofsted RI to Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ in
2020. The school was proudly recognised in 2020 as an EdTech
Demonstrator School as one of eighteen schools in the country.

Chiltern Academy Marston Vale Middle School
Chiltern Academy is a heavily oversubscribed 1200 place Free Marston Vale Middle School is a 500 pupil, 9-13 middle school in
School, 11-16 secondary school. The school moved into a new Mid-Bedfordshire. It has excellent facilities and is in a quiet, rural
building located in the centre of Luton in September 2019 but setting. A lot of progress in core areas has been made recently
opened in September 2018. Chiltern Academy follows the due to large influx of outstanding teachers and leaders. There
national curriculum and offers specialisms in sport, engineering has been a great deal of refurbishment and the site is excellent.
and business and has received glowing external reviews. Admissions have steadily increased in the last three years.

Dallow Primary School Putteridge High School
Dallow Primary has 625 pupils. Since joining the Trust, the KS2 Putteridge High School is a rapidly growing and improving school
SATs results have increased considerably, and the very good and will have 1100 pupils in September 2021. It is a 11-16 school.
Ofsted report of 2017 reflects the overall improvements within The school is at an exciting stage in its development having
the school. The school is proud to be at the very heart of its received a glowing Ofsted report in 2019 and a £22 million
community. complete new build that opened in Summer 2021.

Daubeney Academy Springfield Primary School
Daubeney Academy is graded as Ofsted ‘good’, but was inspected Springfield Primary is a 400 place primary school in Kempston,
during its previous incarnation as a Middle School. Daubeney it is located directly next door to Daubeney. The school has not
is a very small secondary school with just over 400 students. It been inspected as an academy, but the predecessor was graded
has an inclusive, child centred ethos. The school was part of the as ‘Requires Improvement’. Considerable refurbishment has taken
Challenger Trust until 2021. place at the school. The school was part of the Challenger Trust.

Denbigh High School Chiltern Teaching School Hub (CTSH)
Denbigh High School is graded as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted and Chiltern Teaching School Hub (CTSH) is a cross-phase and cross-
has 1120 pupils. It is a 11-16 school. In each of the last three regional alliance with Denbigh High School as the lead school.
years, Denbigh High School was ranked in the top three of the Challney Boys was designated a National Teaching School in
DfE performance tables against schools with a similar context, the first cohort, from September 2011. Together, and with their
this recognised their outstanding Progress 8 score of 0.83. In
2019 Denbigh was accredited with an SSAT award to recognise strategic partners, CTSH provides training and support and
transforming practice in “Leadership through Moral Purpose”. identify and coordinate expertise by using the best teachers and
Denbigh was proudly recognised in 2019 as an EdTech 50 School leaders to focus on:
and a Demonstrator School in 2020. • Initial Teacher Training
• Continuing professional and leadership development
Kempston Academy (AB,ECF,NPQs)
Kempston Academy is a small secondary school with 550 • Succession planning and talent management
students. It has a sixth form that hosts the Kempston Rovers • School-to-school support
football academy. The school was graded as Ofsted ‘good’ in its • Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs)
last inspection. It houses ‘Aspen’ a 20 place provision. Again, the • Research and development
school was part of Challenger Trust until 2021.
Chiltern Training Group
Lancot Academy Chiltern Training Group - We also provide Initial Teacher Training
Lancot Academy is a 400 place primary school. It has been on through the Chiltern Training Group (CTG) - an ‘Outstanding’
an excellent school improvement journey and was rated as initial teacher training provider. The Chiltern Training Group was
Ofsted ‘good’ in its most recent inspection. The school provides judged to be outstanding by Ofsted in
a strong character led curriculum. The school was also part of the February 2014 - one of very few School Centred Initial Teacher
Challenger Trust until 2021. Training (SCITT) providers in the country to receive this accolade.

Lark Rise Academy The Acorn Training Group
Lark Rise Academy is a heavily oversubscribed 345 pupil primary The Acorn Training Group (ATG) was established in September
school, where children can begin their educational journey in the 2014 and is run from Lark Rise Academy, which is an outstanding
nursery. The school offers an excellent education to the children Primary School and has been so for a significant number of years.
in the school, as determined in its most recent Ofsted inspection • Primary Initial Teacher Training
and Challenge Partners review. It is a former National Teaching • Continuing professional and leadership development
School and now hosts ‘Acorn Training Group’. The school is Ofsted • School-to-school support which includes the deployment of
graded as ‘outstanding’. Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs).

Linslade School Together Towards
Linslade School is a 630 pupil 9 - 13 middle school in Leighton Excellence, ambition
Buzzard - graded ‘Good’ by Ofsted in June 2016. It is a Values and inspiration
Education School and was among the first schools to achieve
the Gold Young Carers Award. The school has a proud tradition
in performing arts and sports and competes in competitions at
local, county and regional level. Linslade joined Chiltern Learning
Trust in June 2018 and there have been massive improvements -
including glowing external reviews in 2019-2020.

Chiltern Learning Trust | Prospectus



WHY JOIN THE CHILTERN
LEARNING TRUST?

We challenge even the highest performing schools –
can you make pedagogy, leadership, pupil standards,
recruitment of great staff and financial capacity, better by
staying on your own or joining our high performing Trust?

The Chiltern Learning Trust provides opportunities for
teachers and support staff to share good practice and
to benefit from a common professional development
programme that adds real value to the education and
outcomes of all the students across the Trust.

Outstanding leadership from a National Leader of
Education, as your Chief Executive, with the capacity
of outstanding schools with a national reputation for
quality and school improvement through the Chiltern
Teaching School Hub and the Chiltern Training Group, our
initial teaching training provider. Also we now provide
support for primary schools through The Acorn Training
Group.

Our first class, value for money central team support
including HR, finance, marketing, IT, estates management
and admissions will leave you free to concentrate on
developing the capacity of your leadership and school
teams and to focus on teaching and learning that
delivers outstanding outcomes and a first class education
for all of your students. Collaboration and shared staffing
and recruitment opportunities are a major bonus.
Our senior central team are outstanding leaders and
specialists in their areas of expertise.

Efficiencies in administrative functions and joint
procurement, this will help us in these more austere times
to the advantage of the students.

High quality governance with a clear focus on strategic
development, teaching and learning and accountability.

Chiltern Learning Trust | Prospectus



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is the Chiltern Learning Trust’s ethos, 3. Will our governors’ roles change when we join a MAT?
vision, standards and expectations? When a school joins the CLT, there will be three tiers of
The following documents will give you an insight into governance rather than two. These three tiers will be:
what being part of the Chiltern Learning Trust means, • members of the MAT
our plans for the development of the Trust and what the • board of trustees of the MAT (the board)
Trust will look like in the future: • local governing bodies (LGBs) for each academy school.
• CLT Prospectus You will need to discuss with the Trust whether any of
• CLT Development Plan your governors will sit on the Board. However, it is likely
• Definition of roles and responsibilities for Board, that the majority of your existing governors will not be
Central team, Local Governing Body and trustees of the CLT and will continue to use their
Headteacher experience and expertise within your LGB.
• Information for potential applicants

2. How much does it cost a school and what will 4. What is a local governing body?
the school receive in return? Within a multi-academy trust, each school will usually
The Chiltern Learning Trust operates a central trust have its own LGB. These have a similar status to
function. This central function employs the Chief committees of a maintained governing body and the only
Executive, the Chief Finance Officer and a number of powers they have are those that are delegated to them
staff to provide central services across the Trust covering by the CLT’s Board. This is normally formalised into a
the following areas: scheme of delegation. Individuals serving on an LGB
GOVERNANCE COMPLIANCE may not be trustees of the Chiltern Learning Trust.
• Admissions It is common for them to be referred to as ‘governors’,
• Health and safety although technically the governors of an academy trust
• Finance are the directors/trustees.
• Recruitment of staff Whilst the LGBs will usually have delegated authority
• Welfare and child protection to run the school, the directors of the Chiltern Learning
• Procurement Trust will be ultimately responsible for all of the schools
• The handling of complaints it runs.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
• Overall academic performance 5. Do we need to get permission to join the
• Performance management/staff professional Chiltern Learning Trust?
development and induction Both the schools and the Chiltern Learning Trust will need
• Quality of teaching to obtain the permission of the Secretary of State for
• Curriculum Education via the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
• Using technology to maximise learning The ESFA will usually want the parties to prepare a busi-
SUCCESSION PLANNING ness plan which sets out:
• Strategic vision • the details of the change, including any potential
• System Leadership through teaching schools
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION issues/risks relating to the proposals and evidence
• Communication across shared governance of demand
• Links with community, parents, carers and guardians • when is the change to be implemented and how
• The provision of information • the effect on other schools, academies and
Each school is asked to contribute 3% of its General educational institutions within the local authority
Annual Grant income for these central trust functions; and an overview of the responses to the consultation
the level of financial contribution is annually reviewed by (see below)
the Trust’s Board. • the degree of local authority support and what the
It is anticipated that savings will also be made through academy has done in response to any consultation
staff CPD, teacher training, recruitment and retention responses from them
delivered by the Trust’s teaching school (CTSA) and • any indicative costings and an indication of how
training group (CTG). these might be met, including how the change will be
sustained in terms of capacity and value for money
• any suggested changes to the admission arrangements.

6. Do we need to consult?
The DfE guidance on making significant changes requires
both the school and the CLT to consult with key
stakeholders, including the local authority, for a minimum
period of 8 weeks before submitting a business case to
the ESFA.
The DfE require that consultation should be planned
to maximise response, which will usually mean holding
consultation during school term time. It is also good
practice to hold meetings at the academy school, or at
a venue close to it, to canvas the views of stakeholders.
7. What is the process for joining an existing MAT?
The business of running the school will transfer to the
Chiltern Learning Trust. The following steps therefore
need to be taken:
• the CLT will enter into a Supplemental Funding

Agreement on behalf of the school;
• the employment of the staff of the school will

transfer from the single academy trust or maintained
school to the Chiltern Learning Trust in accordance
with the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of
Employment) Regulations 2006 (‘TUPE’)
• the assets and contracts of the school will be
transferred to the CLT under a commercial transfer
agreement (it will be necessary for the local
authority to be a party to this agreement if you are a
maintained school)
• the CLT will need to be given use of the school land
and buildings, usually either by way of a 125 year
lease with the local authority or the transfer of the
freehold of the land, as applicable.
Once the conversion has taken place, if applicable,
a single academy trust company may be wound up.
8. Where can I find more information?
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/
attachment_data/file/458632/governance-in-mul-
ti-academy- trusts_Sept2015.pdf

Chiltern Learning Trust | Prospectus



DUE DILIGENCE FOR CLT ENTRY

Organisations that would like to join the Trust must provide the following information:

1. Review of the last 2 years actual outturn accounts, with explanation for any significant differences.
2. Benchmarking data with explanations.
3. Current year budget and best estimate for the following 4 years with commentary.
4. Details of pupil numbers and how they were arrived at, include forecasts.
5. If in deficit or forecast in year deficits, recovery plan required.
6. Condition survey for buildings, including Portacabins etc., and relevant estimates for repairs.

Details of any lease arrangements for property.
7. a) Details of staff, position on pay scales, type of contract. Please include organisation chart/pay

structure and do you follow teachers’ pay and conditions? Details of any ‘out of the ordinary’ personal
agreements. Details of any pending disciplinary issues. Arrangements for site management,
facilities management and cleaning
b) Governance structure and evaluation.
8. Details on staff pension costs.
9. Property deeds, include leases, drawings, links with third parties and the site development plan.
10. Any other relevant legal agreements/contracts.
11. Results in public examinations for the last 3 years, with brief commentary.
12. Explanation and analysis of the quality of teaching and learning.
13. The current School Improvement Plan and any risk management register.
14. Provide details of ICT systems and development plan.
15. What do your parents think of you? Please include parents’ surveys etc.

Chiltern Learning Trust | Prospectus

Thinking of joining?

If you are interested in becoming part of the Chiltern Learning Trust
then please contact our Director of Finance & Compliance,
Teresa Kelly via [email protected]

Chiltern Learning Trust | Prospectus



Ardley Hill

ACADEMY

CHALLNEY

High School for Boys

CHALLNEY HIGH
SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

Kempston Chief Executive
ADRIAN ROGERS
ACADEMY
BEd, MA, NPQH, NLE
MARSTON VALE
Chiltern Learning Trust
MIDDLE SCHOOL
c/o Denbigh High School
Alexandra Avenue | Luton

Bedfordshire | LU3 1HE
01582 736611

[email protected]

www.chilternlearningtrust.org

ChilternLearningTrust ChilternLT