Partnership Agreement

Fully committed to providing the best possible service to our schools

Your school is a valued member of the family of the Diocese of Chelmsford. We belong together, rooted in our inclusive Christian identity.

Dioceses must provide all schools with some core services. In Chelmsford this includes statutory expectations and administration as well as basic support by Schools Advisers.

In addition, the Education Team will act on behalf of our Church schools and academies with:

  • our national and regional diocesan networks;
  • our close links with National Society/Church of England Education Office and the wider Church;
  • our contacts with the Department for Education;
  • our association with the Teaching School Hubs;
  • our partnerships with local authorities and Multi-Academy Trusts;
  • and our links with clergy across the Diocese.

We make no charge for any of these core services at the point of delivery, though the list of things for which dioceses are responsible continues to grow and these services are increasingly costly to deliver efficiently and to the high standard we would all expect.

We do offer initial consultation and telephone contact via officers and Diocesan Registrar regarding legal, financial, human resources and curriculum issues. However, the Partnership Agreement does not offer legal, financial or HR advice.

Our Partnership Agreement sets out your school’s contribution to the overall cost of providing your school with support from the Diocese together with a number of enhanced service entitlements. It is an important element in enabling us to support your school. Over 90% of our Church Schools subscribe to it, recognising it plays a significant part in enabling our service to all schools to continue to the highest levels.

We are confident this agreement offers excellent value for money as well as expressing our commitment to each other within the family of church schools.

 

Subscription costs for 2024-25

Your Partnership Agreement subscription is based on pupil numbers obtained from https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/. The charge is calculated on a per pupil basis, with a maximum charge applied as follows:

  • Per pupil charge £3.10 + VAT
  • Maximum charge £1,302.00 + VAT (420+ pupils)

Please note that in future years we intend to link the subscription costs to CPI rate. You may wish to make a note of this for budgeting purposes.

We will send you an invoice in the summer term, ahead of the 2024-25 academic year. If you choose not to partner with us, then please talk to us about this. Please bear in mind that we will charge you for any service additional to the core provision we offer.

“Recognising its Christian foundation, the school will preserve and develop its religious character according to the principles of the Church of England in partnership with the Church at Parish and Diocesan level.”

from the ‘Ethos Statement’ in the constitution of every Church of England school.

 

Summary of provision for 2024-25

We are fully committed to providing the best possible service to our schools.

All schools, partnership and non-partnership, are entitled to receive support, including telephone and email support, OFSTED and SIAMS feedback meeting attendance, advice on funding, land and property.

However, we are aware that most schools require far more than these core services.

By joining our Partnership Agreement you will receive much greater support tailored to your specific needs, which far exceeds the cost of the Partnership Agreement.

In addition to many other benefits the Partnership Agreement includes 7 hours of Adviser support. This time may be used flexibly in consultation with your Adviser, with the option of in person visits, online sessions, or shorter virtual touchpoints.

  • School Support

    Adviser support

    Subscription to the Partnership Agreement includes 7 hours of Adviser Support (in person or online). Support may include:

    • School improvement, including help with self-evaluation.
    • Advice on leadership and management issues.
    • Meeting with SLT, leading a staff meeting or half-day training in school.
    • Triangulation of RE teaching and learning.
    • Meeting with a new incumbent and headteacher.
    • Working with pupils.
    • Meeting with RE or Collective Worship Leads.
    • ‘Health Check’ e.g. looking at worship.
    • RE lesson observations.
    • Pupil Voice.
    • INSET on RE and/or Collective Worship.
    • Christian Vision & Values, Church School distinctiveness etc.

    Governance support

    Use Adviser support time included in Partnership Agreement subscription (in agreement with the School Adviser). Support may include:

    • Bespoke School Based training delivered by our Governance Adviser.
    • Advice on Governance issues.

    Early Years Support

    Available on request for subscribing schools. Support may include:

    • Leadership and Management of Early Years setting.
    • Curriculum design.
    • Pre-school set up advice.
    • Ofsted preparation.
  • Admissions

    Admission Policies

    Your Partnership Agreement subscription includes bespoke advice and support on Admission Policies.

  • Church School Inspections

    Church School Inspections

    Your Partnership Agreement subscription includes SIAMS pre- or post- inspection bespoke advice and support.

  • Buildings and Premises

    Admin fee for subscribing schools:

    • VA School Capital Allocation Projects funded from April 2024 funding allocation - 1% of Project cost.
    • VA School Capital Allocation Projects funded from April 2025 funding allocation - 2% of Project cost.
  • Recruitment in Church Schools

    Vacancy adverts

    Your Partnership Agreement subscription includes vacancy adverts as advised on website/Schools Bulletins.

  • Additional Support by Advisers

    Our Adviser charges for additional support in 2024-25 have increased by around 5% to broadly keep in line with inflation.

    Subscription to the Partnership Agreement includes 7 hours of Adviser support (in person or online). For subscribing schools, additional support by Advisers will be charged in blocks of 3.5 hours:

    • £180 + VAT for 3.5 hours
    • £360 + VAT for 7 hours
  • Non-subscribing schools

    Non-subscribing schools receive one annual ‘Keep In Touch’ visit.

    This short visit is only to touch base and does not provide the detailed support subscribing schools receive through their termly adviser visits. Additional advice and support is chargeable for non-subscribing schools:

    • Any adviser, governance or Early Years support beyond the one annual visit.
    • Bespoke advice and support to ensure your Admissions policy meets statutory requirements.
    • SIAMS pre- or post- inspection support.
    • VA School Capital Allocation Projects – higher charge of 2% of Project cost for projects funded from April 2024 funding allocation and 3% of Project cost for projects funded from April 2025 funding allocation.
    • Recruitment vacancy adverts as advised on website/Schools Bulletins - £50 + VAT per vacancy.

    For non-subscribing schools, support by Advisers will be charged in blocks of 3.5 hours:

    • £280 + VAT for 3.5 hours
    • £560 + VAT for 7 hours
  • Other Services

    External Review of Governance

    Examines the governance structure, operations and performance across the board, working closely with the board, executive leaders and the governance professional (previously referred to as ‘clerks’), to improve the board’s performance. 

    Charges for subscribing and non-subscribing schools are:

    • Primary = £1,020 + VAT
    • Secondary = £1,360 + VAT
    • 6 month follow up = £340 + VAT