School organisation

Many LDBS Church schools have entered formal collaboration arrangements: partnerships, federations and multi-academy trusts. Many more are considering it as a way to support sustainability, staff development and curriculum breadth.

Our Partnership and Federation Advice explains the main features of the different kinds of collaboration and the process for establishing a Partnership and a Federation.

The partnership model can be a strategic option which supports school sustainability within the maintained sector. One of the most important steps in forming a partnership is identifying the partner school or schools. LDBS supports schools to form partnerships with the capacity to provide long-term strategic benefit. Geographical proximity is important for collaboration, so partnerships are almost always with schools in the same geographical area.

Once strategic partnerships are established, schools will be encouraged to consider federation, to help school leaders to provide systems leadership and take full advantage of the potential economies of scale.

Our Diocesan Strategy for school organisation summarises our approach to Partnerships and Federations and it also includes our approach to the growth of multi-academy trusts and the criteria that we apply to any Church school MAT wishing to expand, or any school wishing to join a Church school MAT. 

The aim of this approach is to take a long-term strategic view of an effective school system in which Church schools within the London diocese are sustainable, outward looking and thriving. We recognise the widely varying contexts in which schools operate and the range of political realities in which the vision will need to be delivered. We are grateful to school leaders, governors and clergy for engaging with our extensive consultation process, and for leading with moral purpose that extends beyond the individual school.