Schools and learning

Federation of Governing Bodies

FEDERATION: FAQs

This is a quick guide to some of the many issues around federation. It does not replace DCSF guidance which should also be consulted at an early stage (click on the link at the end of the article).

Q1 What is a federation?

A federation is a group of two or more schools with a formal, written, agreement to work together to raise standards, promote inclusion, find new ways of approaching teaching and learning and build capacity between the schools in a coherent manner. This will be brought about through making use of the joint governance arrangements made possible by the 2002 Education Act and also perhaps through structural changes in leadership and management.

The constituent schools of a federation retain their names and identities but there may be scope for flexibility regarding staffing and budget (see below).

Q2 What are the staffing implications?

The employer of staff in community and VC schools will continue to be the LA; the employer of staff in foundation and VA schools will be the federation governing body. In all categories of school, the staff of the schools in a federation become staff of the federation. This means that staff could work in more than one school of the federation, depending on their contract.

Q3 Do we need to appoint a Head or Principal of Federation?

It is not a requirement to appoint to such a post. However, to reap full benefits from federation there probably needs to be a lead professional to have an operational overview, to complement the federation governing body which has the strategic overview. In a two-school federation the role could be(but would not have to be) fulfilled by one individual who was (part-time) head of both schools. This would be a decision for the federation governing body to make.

Q4 Will federating make it easier to appoint a head for our school?

The prospect of working in a federation might increase the attractiveness of a school headship for some prospective applicants but this is impossible to say for certain.

Q5 What about the budget?

Each school in a federation would continue to receive its delegated budget share as determined under the agreed HCC formula. However, the federation governing body would be able to move money from one school’s budget to another.

Q6 What about admissions?

Admission to each school would be determined by the appropriate admission authority (the LA in the case of community and VC schools, the federated governing body in the case of foundation and VA schools).

Q7 The school/s we are contemplating federating with is/are of a different category/in a different LA to us. Does this pose any problems?

Cross-category and/or cross-LA federations are possible, though there would be more things to think about. Advice is available – see Q12 below.

Q8 What would the implications be for the governing body and its way of working?

It would be for the federation governing body to decide what would work best and to set up structures and mechanisms accordingly.

Q9 Federation seems rather a big step from where we are now. Is there an intermediate position?

Yes. Collaboration could offer some of the advantages of federation without the need for formal arrangements. (See the article on governornet - click on the link below.)

Q10 What if we federate and then find it’s not working?

There is a procedure for a school to leave a federation. There is also a procedure for dissolving a federation.

Q11 We’re still interested. What do we do now?

Each governing body in the proposed federation must consider a report on the proposal as an agenda item. Having done so, it would need to formally resolve to consult on a proposal to federate.

Once that has happened, the schools wishing to federate must consult interested parties in the area, including parents, staff at the schools, and the LA. The consultation documents are required to specify the schools involved and the proposed date of federation, the proposed size of the governing body, the proposed numbers of each stakeholder group on the governing body, the proposed arrangements for staffing (ie whether there will be a headteacher of more than one school, whether other staff will work at more than one school), and other details.

Q12 Where can we find out more?

• Governance (01438 843082, hdc.governors@hertscc.gov.uk) stands ready to assist any governing bodies contemplating federation.
• Check the DCSF website (use the link below).