The PAG Newsletter - Issue 14
Contents
Introduction from Tom
Hello, and welcome to the 14th Issue of the PAG Newsletter. As many of our clients turn their thoughts to six long weeks of relaxing over the summer holidays, here at PAG we are as busy as ever. Wave 3 is still in full swing with the deadline for applications on 31st of August, and the second window of TCaF and TEG funding opened up this week, with the deadline for applications on 2nd of October.
We also enjoyed a team day in London on Wednesday this week, which was a great opportunity to get the whole team together, meet some of PAG’s new faces, and finish our day a little early to go to the pub!
As always, we appreciate you taking the time to read our newsletter. Do not forget to follow PAG on Twitter and LinkedIn?to stay updated with the latest insights in the world of education.
Partner News: MLG Education Services to launch new ICFP tool
By Becci Roach
With almost all schools and colleges (98%) saying they would have to make cuts in the current or future academic years or both, compared to last year as a result of cost pressures, using the right integrated curriculum and financial planning (ICFP) tool is key to achieving financial stability and the best education for pupils.
There are many ICFP tools available that help schools plan the optimum curriculum for their pupils with the funding they have available. However, most of these focus on a few key metrics, such as teacher contact ratio and class size, which in turn limits the relevance and value of the output. But is there a more insightful alternative? A new ICFP tool created by PAG’s finance partners MLG Education Services?provides a holistic data approach including metrics of efficiency and ratios that are part of ICFP and draws its data from major national databases including the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and Ofsted. This allows schools to filter the data by metrics that fit their specific criteria, for example, by Ofsted rating, attainment, and whether the school has a balanced budget, and then drill down further, to postcode level if required. This in turn enables the identification of models adopted by a bespoke set of successful similar schools based on data that can be fact-checked for accuracy.
MLG’s Managing Director, Mike Giddings, says: “Our new tool’s holistic data approach breaks through the lack of clarity and provides the full picture to inform the optimum curriculum model. It is also suitable for all types and sizes of school, from secondary schools with complex curriculum requirements to special schools where the pupil-to-teacher ratio can vary greatly.”
MLG’s new ICFP tool is scheduled to be launched this November at the Schools & Academies Show 2023. For further information, you can contact MLG here.
Sector News: Trust Capacity Funding application window opens
By Oscar Goldman
As the outcomes of window 1 Trust Capacity Funding (TCaF) applications have started rolling out, we are seeing the results of potentially the most competitive round of TCaF to date. Funding has been capped nationally across the board, and, as we move into window 2, it is imperative that trusts consider their application plans and timings strategically in order to secure the best possible outcomes.
In window 1, PAG secured wins for several of our clients across multiple strands, projects, and local authorities. These wins will contribute directly to improving outcomes for pupils all over the country, benefiting from a range of IT, school improvement, and capacity expansion workstreams. We are proud to announce that one of our clients will be receiving over half a million in funding to drive capacity, systems, and education improvement!
Looking forward to window 2, prospective applicants should take note of the shortened spending window. Any successful application lodged in window 2 can begin grant activities from November 1 2023, with all activities ending by March 31 2024. This means that applicants will have to carefully consider which workstreams to apply with, and how to organise their funding.
The window for applications opened on July 1 2023 and will close on October 2 2023. Any potential growth project must have been approved from January 1 2023, and approval must be ratified before submission.
Funding is organised into four distinct strands:
In addition to TCaF, trusts looking to expand through informal conversations with schools in another local authority, looking to create a new MAT hub, or schools looking to establish a new trust should consider applying for the Trust Expansion Grant (TEG). This is a grant for up to ￡50,000 to facilitate expansion and growth. TEG funding could be spent on:
Similar to TCaF, the current TEG window runs from July 1 2023 to October 2 2023.
To find out more about TCaF or TEG, you can get in touch with us here.
PAG Explains: Capacity Mapping
By Helena Senior
Here at PAG, we designed a Capacity Mapping service to ensure that the resource and capacity structures in growing organisations are fit for purpose. It is vital to safeguard against lack of capacity within members of your central or executive team to ensure that you can work towards each milestone, project, and strategic priority effectively and efficiently as your organisation grows.??
By examining closely the ‘pain points’ of your organisation, Capacity Mapping provides practical recommendations to alleviate pressure on over-stretched team members, such as the CEO or HR manager, and re-distribute key pieces of work to other members. Our final goal is to help you understand how your current structure is impacting the quality of the services you offer and to take action to improve it.??
Step 1: Analysing workload
One of the first steps we take as part of our Capacity Mapping process is identifying key roles and responsibilities within the organisation. This includes looking at staffing and governance structures, identifying any recent changes and creating a digital map of staffing structure(s) with breakdowns of each role.
From there, we consult with staff on the specific skills and knowledge required for each role and evaluate the staff capacity across the organisation.
Step 2: Deliver Recommendations
Once we have developed a clear picture of capacity across the organisation, we deliver a report of our findings, including a digital map of pinch-points and capacity distribution. During this stage, there is room for post-analysis discussion, and we can begin looking at future capacity forecasting and developing a Capacity Plan.?
Step 3: Implement Capacity Plan
The final stage of the process is implementing a Capacity Plan based on findings from the mapping exercise. This includes establishing a capacity feedback process and project workflows.
领英推荐
Once changes have been implemented within an organisation, we can conduct a post-capacity review to ensure that actions have been effective in improving capacity.
To read the full article on our website, click here.
PAG Profile: Savannah Chapman
Meet Savannah...
Savannah Chapman first joined PAG through the Kickstart scheme in December 2021 and has since progressed to associate consultant specialising in early years. She has a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and Care and is currently studying for an MSc in Psychology. Originally from Stratford upon Avon, Savannah now lives in North Wales with her husband and her cat but can often be found travelling the country in a converted van!
What kind of projects do you work on at PAG?
Research projects relating to early years and education services, typically commissioned by local authorities across the UK. These have mostly consisted of Childcare Sufficiency Assessments, which scopes the current level of childcare provision within the LA and any factors/barriers that may be impacting on the accessibility of services, although I have worked on other qualitative pieces of research.
What are your best tips for working from home?
Working remotely has allowed me to travel frequently, and always planning the next adventure keeps me sane! It is so important to get out and about when you don’t have an office job – even if it’s just pottering around the garden or walking to the shop once a day.
Do you have any other fun stories from your time at PAG?
Last year, I travelled to York to meet my amazing colleague for a working day and decided to stay the weekend which was spent dragging her around all the historical parts of the city (so, all of it), including the better half of a Saturday in the York Minster. I have also been able to meet up with other colleagues up in Glasgow, which is always a great time. Having colleagues spread out across the UK certainly has its perks!
What’s the last bit of content you fell in love with?
Has to be the incredible Horizon: Forbidden West video game! Masterpiece.
You can read the full profile on our website here.
PAG News: Quarterly Events Recap
By Gabriel Senior
It has been a busy few months in terms of events, with PAG staff attending education expos and conferences in London and Birmingham and Create: Schools?hosting a webinar series.?
Events
On 27th April, our Managing Director Tom was at the National Network of Special Schools Conference in Birmingham, where colleagues from across the country came together to be inspired, share good and best practice, network with each other and hear from motivational speakers.
Just under a month later, we joined our capital partner AMR Consult?at the Schools and Academies show in London. This is one of the largest education expos in the year, where thousands of education leaders come together to connect, spark new ideas and discuss the current and future challenges faced by Schools, MATs, Local Authorities and the wider education sector.
On 21st June, we were at the National SEND Conference in in London, where we received updates following the SEND and AP Green Paper, including details and next steps for The SEND and AP Improvement Plan.
Webinars
Create: Schools?also hosted four webinars alongside our partners in the final week of the Wave 3 pre-registration window. These offered a chance for SEND free school proposers to hear from experts in specialist areas such as capital, legal, finance and marketing.
Becci Roach, Director of Kinetic Marketing ran a session about the marketing considerations for SEND wave 3 proposers. The session included examples of successful and unsuccessful marketing and how to promote community engagement for free schools.
Mike Giddings and Courtney Doherty of MLG Education delivered a session about the financial considerations for wave 3 proposers. They spoke about the financial template, free school budgeting and common pitfalls.
Graham Burns and Nicola Andrews of Stone King?delivered a session on how to set up a multi-academy trust for single-academy trusts, maintained schools and charities. The session covered MAT legal structure and governance, how MATs are established and incorporating a new MAT company.
Finally, Ben McCarthy Managing Director of AMR Consult?spoke about the capital considerations for wave three proposers. Ben talked about what the DfE look for in the application, site considerations, the build process and more.
Recordings of these sessions can be found on the Create: Schools website?and are certainly worth a watch if you are considering opening a free school in the current wave.
Live Bids
For more information on current opportunities, you can check out the live bids page on our website here.