Will the Local Education Authority (LEA) still exist?
Yes, but in effect all the day-to-day and strategic functions of the LEA, such as overseeing schools, providing education services, managing budgets, employing staff etc., will be contracted out to The Learning Trust.

The LEA will retain some technical, legal and financial roles for example the Council must have a named member of staff with the title of Chief Education Officer. However, practically the day-to-day functions of such a role will be carried out by the Chief Executive of The Learning Trust.
A key role for the LEA will be to monitor the contract in relation to the services run by The Learning Trust.

What will happen to staff in Hackney Council's Education Department?
Under the TUPE regulations staff will transfer to the employment of The Learning Trust. In preparation for this, discussions will take place with staff and trade unions.

Is the The Learning Trust going to run educational services for ever?
No. There will be a contract between Hackney Council and The Learning Trust. The latter will provide the services, the former monitor them. The contract length will be determined between the Council and The Learning Trust, considering the views of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). The contract will be subject to a full monitoring process.

How will the contract be judged, how will we know if The Learning Trust is successful?
There will be a number of performance indicators that The Learning Trust will have to meet, and these will be taken from the Education Development Plan (EDP) and the Best Value Performance Plan performance indicators.

The Learning Trust will also produce an Annual Report outlining its performance as well as provide information to Council Scrutiny Committees.

Normal inspections regimes, such as OFSTED, will review the work of The Learning Trust, just as they would a traditional LEA.

Who owns all the education buildings such as schools?
Hackney Council will continue to own the buildings, although The Learning Trust will be responsible for maintaining and developing them.

Are schools part of the The Learning Trust?
School buildings will continue to be owned by Hackney Council; headteachers and governing bodies will continue to be responsible for running schools; and teachers will continue to be employed by Hackney Council via school governing bodies. However, the Learning Trust will deal with all issues relating to staff in schools, e.g. consultation, staff associations and trade unions.

The Learning Trust will offer or act as a broker for services to schools, monitor schools through the school advisory system, and be responsible for overseeing that schools make targets. The Learning Trust will assume all of the Councilxs powers of intervention in schools.

What is different about The Learning Trust?
First and foremost The Learning Trust is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that will run education services in Hackney. This route was chosen following two reports into the future of Hackney Education. Historically it has been stated by OFSTED - Hackney Education Services have been vulnerable to the wider corporate difficulties of the Council.

Another important change is the involvement of key stakeholders in overseeing education services. Two headteachers and a chair of governors will be on the Board of The Learning Trust. In addition, and demonstrating that education is also being put at the heart of the community, the Chief Executive of the Hackney 2020 Partnership and the Chief Executive of the Learning Skills Council will be on the Board.

The level of engagement with stakeholders on educational issues will also be different the proposal currently being consulted upon is for a new Stakeholders Reference Group, which will consist of representatives from senior education staff, faith groups (e.g. diocesan boards), local ethnic groups, governors, parents, and unions. Reference Group members will be able to put their views on education directly to members of the Board.

But perhaps the biggest difference will not be the new structures but rather the sustained improvement in attainment of pupils and the widening of opportunities for all. Progress has been made over the last few years but the aim of The Learning Trust is to accelerate improvement so Hackney can attain the success it deserves.

Finally, in the past it has always been possible to "blame" the Council for problems encountered in education services, but from August 1st 2002 that explanation will not be possible. This means that a full analysis of any difficulties can be undertaken, which perhaps in some cases, will allow the Council excuse to be stripped away.

How will councillors be involved? What democratic input will there be in the The Learning Trust?
Hackney Council currently has a Committee system. This means that issues and polices are discussed and voted on by a group of councillors in Committee meetings. Education issues are generally covered by the Education Committee and this work is overseen by the Chair of the Education Committee.

From May 2002 this system is changing with executive power resting in either a Mayor & Cabinet or a Leader & Cabinet, the model to be determined in a borough-wide referendum. This system will change how policy matters are dealt with as the Leader & Cabinet / Mayor and Cabinet has executive power, and the rest of the councillors are involved in scrutiny. Council staff will continue to implement the policies.

The setting up of The Learning Trust presents a further change. With its establishment it is the Board of The Learning Trust that will be deciding and discussing education policies, rather than them being overseen by the Leader / Mayor and Cabinet. The Learning Trust staff will implement the policies, rather than Council staff.

Councillor input is still retained with the Lead Councillor for Education sitting on the new Board (in both models there is likely to be a Lead Member for Education).

The involvement of stakeholders is increased with both The Learning Trust Board and the consultation forums having more input and advice from a range of stakeholders. For example heads and governors will have more say in running education services.

Councillors will also retain one other important function, that of scrutiny. The Learning Trust is committed to providing information to an overview and scrutiny board for education that will be set up by the Council after May 2002.

ITT Stage - OJEU Notice 1958-13-2006
Professional Technical Consultancy Services for Children’s Services Capital Build Project