Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Partnerships and Performance

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Partnership and Performance on the proposed academy conversion of Coventry Extended Learning Centre (CELC) and grant of a long lease to Solihull Alternative Provision Multi Academy Trust (SAPMAT). Appendices to the report provided the Wyken ELC site lease plan, the Wyken ELC SSO House site lease plan, and The Herald ELC site lease plan.

Following two Ofsted inspections at the Coventry Extended Learning Centre (CELC), operating on two sites known as Wyken Extended Learning Centre and Herald Extended Learning Centre (“the CELC’s”), in both June 2018 and 2022, which resulted in gradings both times of ‘Requires Improvement’, the CELC was required to academise. The Secretary of State issued the school a Directive Academy Order (DOA) under the Academies Act 2010 (“the 2010 Act”).

Following the DOA being received in March 2023, the Department for Education, City Council, and CELC agreed that the CELC would join the Solihull Alternative Provision Multi Academy Trust (“SAPMAT”) as a sponsored academy and thereafter would cease to be maintained by the Local Authority.

The Local Authority had a statutory duty to provide appropriate education provision for children under Section 14 of the Education Act 1996, to ensure sufficient school places and fair, appropriate access to education.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills had delegated authority in respect of academy conversion approvals. However, given the unique nature of the conversion in respect of the requirement for multiple leases, Cabinet approval was sought in order to provide transparency given the context and complexities behind the conversion of Coventry Extended learning Centre.

In order to facilitate the conversation, approval was sought under Schedule 1 of the 2010 Act (as amended by Schedule 14 of the Education Act 2011 ("the 2011 Act")), to grant a 125-year long lease at a peppercorn rental for the land and/or buildings within its ownership that had been wholly or mainly used for the purposes of the school in the period of 8 years ending on the day on which an order was made. A Commercial Transfer Agreement (CTA) would also need to be completed. 

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1)  Endorses Coventry Extended Learning Centre’s (CELC) Directive Academy Order to become an academy by joining the Solihull Alternative Provision Multi Academy Trust (MAT).

2)  Delegates authority to the Director of Law and Governance to agree and complete the suite of legal documentation to facilitate the grant of the 125-year long leases in respect of the Wyken ELC, Wyken ELC Site Services Officer (SSO) accommodation and the Herald Extended Learning Centre (ELC) and any necessary Commercial Transfer Agreement (CTA).

3)  Delegates authority to the Director of Partnerships and Performance, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, to agree where necessary any amendments to the legal agreements arising from further consideration by both the Council and Solihull Alternative Provision Multi Academy Trust (MAT).