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2021-03-31-accounts

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER : 08159859 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1156708

SENtient Trust Report of the Trustees and Unaudited

Financial Statements for the Period 1 April 2020

to 31 March 2021

1

SENtient Trust

Hollow lane Exeter Devon EX13RW

Contents of the Financial Statements for the Period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021

Reference and Administrative Details

Chairs Report to the Trustees

Heads Report to the Trustees

Financial statement – Income and Expenditure

Balance Sheet

Profit and Loss Statement

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities

SENtient Trust

Reference and Administrative details for the Period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021

TRUSTEES Mr. P. Gray (Chair) Ms. B Caschere Mr. K Bennett (Vice Chair) Ms. F Butler Ms. S. Pickering Mr. A Gardiner Ms. Sam Barnham Ms. C. Bevan Mr. M. Rose Ms. M. Carter Ms. J. Warne Mr. R Gaehl Mr. S Allman Ms. R. Mitchell Mr. M. MacCourt Ms Liz Shin Ms. R. Saltmarsh Ms. C. White Devon County Council – Ms. S. RandallJohnson

COMPANY SECRETARY Ms. L. Knight REGISTERED OFFICE Ellen Tinkham School Hollow Lane Exeter Devon EX1 3RW REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER 08159859 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1156708

SENtient Trust

Chairs Report for the Trustees for the Period

1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021

BOARD ACTIVITIES 2020/21

This brief report is somewhat untypical as our work has been overshadowed by events beyond our control.

ORCHARD MANOR SCHOOL

The forced academisation was at times all-consuming. I shall not attempt to summarise my file (one inch thick). However, for those coming new to the matter I offer the following observations.

The school was inspected and there were shortcomings in record-keeping (under the safeguarding heading). These were technical and there was never a suggestion of systemic failures. SENtient Head Teachers and Governors were magnificent in putting together a programme of support. However, DfE (the Regional Schools Commissioner) fired the starting pistol for academisation. In ordinary times there would have been HMI monitoring visits to assess our claims that the issues had been addressed. Coronavirus made that impossible.

Useful context is that the RSC was under pressure as the South West had the lowest conversion rate and Devon was bottom of the region.

Twists and turns involved DfE denying any flexibility in the legislation. I proved otherwise. The next tack was to claim that our Trust had an ideological antipathy to academies. That was easy to dispel. To cut a long story short RSC broke every rule in the book. Our meticulous legal challenge to the process (courtesy of Browne Jacobson LLP) demonstrated beyond doubt that statutory regulations had been ignored and the law broken.

That challenge was made eleven months ago and we have had no reply.

The Academy Order was issued and received approval. I raised a further objection which included a FOI request as to whether the Minister had been made aware of a legal challenge before signing the order. That was completely ignored. I wrote to the DfE complaints section. Two months on there had been no reply. I was told that the letter had not been received. I provided a tracking number. Miraculously I heard that the letter had been received after all and passed on to another department. Nothing happened. I engaged the Parliamentary Ombudsman who contacted the

DfE on our behalf. The matter was referred to the SWRSC – the subject of the compliant.

Conversations with our legal advisers show that we had a very strong case for judicial review. However, the financial exposure should we fail was beyond our means. As the expert told me ‘there’s the law – then there’s the DfE’. Naturally we cooperated fully to ensure a smooth transition. Relations with the chosen sponsor are good and I meet again with the CEO next week.

CORONOVIRUS

We have lived through an extraordinary time. The resolve and professionalism of Head Teachers and Governors has been incredible. This was in spite of advice from agencies that was often late, confusing, uncoordinated and changeable. The challenges for our sector were particularly acute as it was clear that if DfE expertise existed then it certainly was not heeded by those offering guidance. Many of us, in different ways, tried to explain that our young people would simply not understand (let alone comply with) physical distancing strictures – to give but one example.

The upshot was that we invented our own systems based on the most sophisticated risk assessment work I have ever seen. Once again, the structures and values of a cooperative trust combined to find a way through problems that seemed overwhelming. My conversations with Head Teachers show just what a toll it has all taken on them and their teaching and support colleagues. Of course, that continues – and will for some time to come. I take my hat off to you.

SUCCESSION PLANNING

During the year under review, SENtient schools were planning for quite a few changes in leadership. Half of our number have new or recently appointed leaders. Excellent appointments were made, and I have been particularly impressed by the collaborative work on induction.

It is also worth noting that Keith now chairs our Executive Group and our close working arrangements will, I am sure, be beneficial for the Trust.

MONITORING AND SUPPORT

One of the things that came out of the Orchard Manor experience is the reality that the nature of our organisation is not widely understood – RSC admitted as much to the local authority. I wrote a paper for the board recently and hope to put the proposals into action as a result of your agreement. Of particular note is our work with DCC on assessing risk, monitoring performance and providing report. The approach is described in a paper for today’s ordinary meeting. I commend it to you.

CONCLUSION

It has been a privilege to chair the Board for a year or so. Please be assured that you can count on my support.

Dr.Paul Gray Keith Bennett Dr Paul Gray (Chair of Board) Keith Bennett (Vice Chair of Board SENtient Trust

Heads Report for the Trustees for the Period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021

Keith Bennett : Marland School

Achievements:

Concerns :

Stuart Allman : Pathfeld School

Significant Events

Concerns

Covid 19 is having a major effect on the learning of all pupils and the repercussions will be felt for a significant period of time

Sam Barham : Lampard School

The first stage of the school’s expansion scheme is almost completed. From January we admit the first additional 16 students. This particular stage has been fraught with challenges linked to Covid, weather, building supplies and extended the stage from 6 weeks to 22 in total. This first stage has been impactful but has now given Upper School students larger class sizes and an environment fit for purpose. The expansion plan (3 stages) will see a planned increase from 120 to 180 over 3 years.

Lampard is in its 3[rd] year of curriculum development and focus is on quality assuring teaching and learning and supporting subject leaders to deliver subject specific staff training to non-specialists. The EMPOWER curriculum is assessed through bespoke assessment frameworks and uses Evidence for Learning to capture academic progress and also in increased independence.

A concern to highlight is the number of consultations we receive as a setting (19 since September) and the impact on strategic leadership capacity due to the length of time the proves takes to complete. Our recent 0-25 team visits to our setting gave us the opportunity to raise this as a concern. Consultations have been raised it at LA level in our LA/special school meetings.

SENtient Trust

Income and Expenditure for the Period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021

SENtient Trust

Balance Sheet for the Period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021

Balance Sheet as at 31 March
2021
SENtient Trust Bank Account
Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand 29,914
Creditors: amounts falling due
within oneyear
Net current assets 29,914
Total assets less current
liabilities		 29,914
Net Assets 29,914
Reserves 39,058
Proft & loss account (9,144)
Members' funds 29,914

SENtient Trust

Profit and Loss Statement for the Period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021

Proft & Loss to 31 March 2020
SENtient Trust Bank Account
Turnover -
Administrative expenses (16,644
)
Operating Proft/(loss) (16,64
4)
Other interest receivable and similar
income		 7500
Proft on ordinary activities
before taxation		 (9,144)
Tax onproft on ordinaryactivities 0
(Loss)/Proft for theperiod (9,144)

SENtient Trust

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021

Statement of Financial Activities

Income

A total of £8,500 was received from 5 schools to fund property transfers and administration costs The Trust received £27,136.46 from Devon CC

Expenditure

A total of £9,532.20 was paid to brownjacobson for legal services and property/ lease transfers Best Western were paid a £1,676.25 for room hire and refreshments

Zurich were paid £543.37 for specialist Charity Insurance Companies House were paid £300 for a late registration fine LK was paid £2,053.90 for administration services and £3,640 for backdated services Clive Robson was paid £875 for a report commissioned by the Trust