School Organisation
The Board of Education supports the work of schools on organisation and re-organisation matters by
- Providing assistance and technical expertise to schools faced with or contemplating reorganisation or re-structuring
- Advising SLTs and governing bodies on structures and leadership
- Issuing strategic guidance and developing policies under the terms of the DBE Measure 2021 (see the Diocese of St Albans Scheme here)
- Liaising with national, regional and local authorities as relevant church authority on behalf of its schools
The role of the Diocesan Board of Education
The DBE as statutory body
As a statutory body, the DBE works closely with multi-academy trusts, Local Authorities, the Department for Education, the Church of England Education Office and other Diocesan Boards of Education. This can include planning and implementing school reorganisation proposals such as federations, or granting permission for schools to join, or form, Church of England MATs.
On rare occasions, the statutory role of the DBE enables it to issue guidance and advice to the governing bodies of church schools or support the closure of a church school that is no longer able to remain viable.
The Diocesan Board of Education also works in partnership with site trustees including the Diocesan Board of Finance and other charitable foundations to ensure that the sites occupied by church schools continue to be used for the provision of an education consistent with the faith and practice of the Church of England.
The DBE’s Education Strategy
The Diocesan Board of Education adopted its current Education Strategy in the autumn term of 2023. You will find the full document below. The Strategy document and its annexes for download by sections are available here.
Academisation
‘Opportunity for All’ – Schools White Paper
Diocesan policy and guidance
Information and updates on Board of Education policy, guidance and events relating to the government White Paper, ‘Opportunity for All’, published in March 2022.
- St Albans DBE policy on Schools White Paper – September 2022
- Guidance on the Membership-Formation of MATs – October 2022 update
Webinars
DBE webinar presenting policy – September 2022
Diocesan MATs webinar – 4th October 2022
- Understanding the landscape of Church of England Trusts in the Diocese of St Albans. Who are they? What do they do? (to watch this recording, click on ‘Watch the replay’. You will need to enter your email address for this.
Other guidance
Taking the next step: a guide to forming or joining a multi-academy trust – NGA/ASCL/Browne Jacobson LLP, June 2022
‘Joining a MAT: Questions to ask’ and ‘MATs: pros and cons’: The Key for School Governors gave us special permission to distribute two helpful documents to schools who attended the DBE webinars. As we have been asked to restrict their circulation, please contact schools@stalbans.anglican.org if you wish to see them. If you have access to The Key for School Governors, you will find the original article relating to ‘the questions to ask’ at: https://schoolgovernors.thekeysupport.com/academies-mats/academy-conversion/due-diligence-schools-joining-existing-mat
Academy and MAT application forms
- Guidance on the Membership-Formation of MATs – October 2022 update
- ACF1-Application for consent to form a MAT – St Albans DBE – Please contact the Schools Team before beginning to complete this form.
- ACJ1-Application for consent to join a MAT – St Albans DBE – Please contact the Schools Team before beginning to complete this form.
Federations and collaborative arrangements
Contact the Schools Team on school organisation matters
In the first instance, if you wish to consult the Schools Team or have a conversation with one of its officers on school organisation and re-organisation matters, please email schools@stalbans.anglican.org or call 01727 818 170.