Mixed federation models such as VA or VC federating with Community

Any maintained school can collaborate with another or join a formal collaboration already operating across other schools. There is no legal barrier to a voluntary aided (VA) school collaborating with a community school. However, there can be challenge in constituting a GB of a mixed federation due to the Articles of Association for Church schools therefore you may wish to consider more informal collaboration.

Many of the small schools in Hertfordshire are VA or VC and governors may be concerned about how they uphold and develop the Christian distinctiveness of church schools when formally collaborating with a community school, so this is a factor for consideration. Hertfordshire County Council recognise the need for dialogue with Diocese of St Albans around leadership of such a group of schools and this conversation has been on-going.

The county council and the Diocese both acknowledge that forming formal collaborations across a range of schools is likely to be needed given the location and circumstances of many small schools in Hertfordshire.

However, any proposed mixed federations that included one or more Church of England school would need to be considered on a contextual and case by case basis.

The council together with the Diocese will ensure that Church schools’ ethos and their Christian distinctiveness will be actively preserved and upheld through any collaborative arrangements.

Please speak to the Diocese Board of Education, in the first instance, if you are a VA or VC school looking at federation opportunities: Schools Team contacts - The Diocese of St Albans