Formation & Background

The Leicestershire Academies Group was formed as the result of an initial conference organised by Newbridge High School Academy on 29 January 2015 attended by 35 Academies, with a further Academies expressing interest in joining.

Special thanks to the Birmingham Bursars' Group and theSchoolBusinessForum for all the guidance and support in us developing this group.

There was unanimous support in creating a group that represents the Academies in the Leicestershire area for a minimal sum of £75 per annum providing:

• On-line self-sustaining information and communication
• Opportunities to meet regularly to network and benefit from high quality relevant speakers
• Hold at least one conference annually, planned by its own members
• Vehicle to access useful documents and information between members
• Forum for topical discussions
• Promote views of the academy sector on Local Authority Forums, Focus Groups and Working Parties
• Enable regular networking opportunities for members
• A communication tool to be able to contact other local Academies in an easy efficient way

 Over recent years there has been a large increase in Local Authority Maintained Schools converting to Academies in Leicestershire.  This has meant that collaboration and supporting each other in effective and efficient ways as Academies has become even more important to ensure we all contribute in raising the quality of the education provision in Leicestershire.  Traditional ways of information sharing and communication have in some areas become less relevant to the Academies agenda and LAG hopes to be able to provide a cost effective way to provide essential information, relevant training in collaboration with our existing Teaching Alliances and support to its members.

There are existing groups of schools and academies already within Leicestershire that meet and communicate to support each other in local clusters and others that meet across the county.  The intention of this Academies Group is not to replace any current effective group or partnership but rather hope to support our members in an alternative complimentary way.

Several committees were created within LAG on-line to start to develop this group.  The following are current members of the Executive Committee:

An Executive Committee was created and put together a proposed Constitution to be agreed by the membership at the first formal meeting of the group.

The first formal meeting of this group took place on 13 February 2015 at Apollo Partnership Trust (formally Newbridge High School Academy) where a proposed Constitution was agreed together with the first year's subscription fees. 

Membership is open to all Academies and any school considering converting or becoming an academy. Membership fees are currently £75.

Aims of Leicestershire Academies Groups (LAG)

• To act as a forum and point of reference for Multi Academy Trusts, Academies and other schools considering becoming academies within the Leicestershire area and other educational services.
• To meet on a regular basis and to invite outside Speakers to present to the group on current issues.
• To enable regular networking opportunities between members.
• To seek to provide a collective voice for the Academy Sector in the Leicestershire area and beyond.
• To provide regular updates and consultation opportunities on both local and national issues.
• To promote the views of Academy Sector on Local Authority Forums, Focus Groups and Working Parties both locally and nationally.
• To seek to provide a platform for New Members to join the group at any time.
• To raise awareness of Professional Training and Development opportunities available to members in order to enhance their personal development and that of the leadership and management of their Academies in partnership with existing organisations e.g. Teaching Alliances.
• To provide professional support to all members to enable them to both enhance and improve the effectiveness of their Academies and the quality of education offered to young people in the Leicestershire area.
• Encourage and promote efficency including negotiating discounts for members where possible

To provide the above in a cost effective, efficient and inclusive way.

Membership is currently £75 per member which includes all conferences and on-line website support.

If an academy is a member then:

The Board of Trustees or Governing Body can join for £50 per annum and any member of the Governing Body or Board of Trustees can take advantage of the Chair's place at any conferences for free and nominate a Trustee/Governor to have access to the website.

Network Managers or those staff in charge of IT within the academy are able to join for free and attend IT specific conferences throughout the year free of charge.

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