Foundation schools - good or bad?

[SanFranBear]

I've just received some paperwork from DC's school saying they are aiming to covert to foundation school status this coming September.

I am obviously going to read up both what they've provided and some Googling but wondered if any of you would be willing to share your actual experience of the type of school network.

From a quick glance, it seems our school is looking to partner with 5 other local schools (including one secondary) and the aims are quite noble - shared learnings, better community experiences, best practice etc. However, some fellow parents in the playground were very dismissive of it and I'm concerned I'm missing something.

There are parent consultations taking place next week (nothing like some notice), and will attempt to attend but would really welcome some thoughts from those who already go.

I really appreciate any insight you can share.

When you say foundation, are they actually joining with the secondary under a multi academy trust (MAT)?

Uhm - let me check...

They are becoming a foundation school and acquiring a cooperative Education Trust.

So not very clear but the secondary school is listed with the four other primaries (and my DC's school)

Are you in England, and your school still maintained by the Local Authority? I know that a lot of primaries are having to look forwards to the brave new world of MATs, and it is quite a scary leap for maintained primary schools.

It may be that the schools have decided to get together as a cooperative trust to see how they get on. They may then be able to convert into a MAT, maybe with the secondary taking the lead, later.

Not an expert, but have sat through several meetings on this subject. If we'd had the choice, that is a model we would be tempted by. Keep your autonomy, see if you can work together, some safety in numbers.

I might be getting the wrong end of the stick, mind you.

Thanks so much for your reply...

Yes - I'm in south of England and its a LA school.

Your summary is how I see it really - the school is definitely not losing its autonomy (well, doesn't sound like it), it's more along the lines of collaboration rather than sacrificing anything.

I was just a bit thrown by the negativity from earlier.. I think it's because my DC's school has a great ethos already and a lot of the proposal sounds like what we already do. Perhaps they just want to know 'what's in it for us'?

The letter is also pretty jargon heavy which I would imagine will put a lot of parents off and makes it look like it's more complicated than it is?

I think I will have to attend the parents meeting just to make sure I get it, but I must say that I'm certainly not against this and can see it actually doing a lot of good in our city - maybe

My own view is that they'd be far best leaving things are they are/were, as I'm not a fan of primary school academies. But, as it looks like we have no choice, it is best to keep as much control as possible.

I would expect a further conversation in a few years time about the secondary becoming a MAT, and the primaries moving into it.

Is this all related to the policy of about a year ago about every school becoming an academy then? I thought that had been shelved?

Forcing schools was shelved, but there is a drive towards them. I think by 2022.

My ds's school is foundation school, but I have no clue about how it differs to others. And I don't think it's academy school.
It doesn't sound any different from schools I read on MN, am I missing something?
What does it mean to be foundation school?