Introduction

At the heart of every decision we make at Fairview is one simple priority: giving every child the strongest possible start in life.

The Governing Body and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) have been working together to carefully explore our current position and the evolving education landscape.  As a result, the Governing Body are proposing to join the University of Kent Academies Trust (UKAT).

We believe this step represents a positive, forward-looking opportunity to secure long-term excellence, stability, and ambition for our pupils.

This consultation is the opportunity for parents/carers, staff, pupils, and anyone else in our local community that has an interest in our school to share your thoughts.  This is an important part of the decision process, and governors are committed to listening carefully to your views and taking them fully into account before making any final decision.

The consultation closes on Saturday 4^th July 2026 at 23:59.

You can share your views by:

• Complete the online consultation survey - click here
• Email us at academyresponses@fairviewprimary.medway.sch.uk
• Write to us, a postbox will be available at the school reception.
• Meet with governors, Fairview leadership and UKAT senior leaders at a drop-in session.  These are being held at the school on Tuesday 30^th June at 2.30pm and 5pm.
• Speaking directly with school leadership at drop-off / pick-up times / by a pre-arranged appointment

Why Change?

Fairview is recognised as a strong school, in a stable financial position, so there is no external pressure on the school forcing change.  However, the education system is changing rapidly.

In Medway there are only 14 fully stand-alone schools remaining out of nearly 100.  With this, the support the local authority can provide continues to reduce.

Additionally, all schools face increasing pressures around:

• Recruitment and retention of high-quality staff
• Rising operational and financial complexity
• Curriculum expectations and accountability
• Long-term sustainability as a standalone institution

In this environment, formal collaboration is becoming essential.

Who is UKAT?

The University of Kent Academies Trust brings together two secondary schools, Chatham Grammar and Brompton Academy, alongside a shared sixth form designed to broaden opportunity and raise outcomes across the system.

The Trust also operates a strong, structured SEND offer across its schools, underpinned by a full complement of provision to ensure inclusive access and appropriate support for all learners.

This includes two specialist resource provisions (SRPs):

• The Eliot SRP, supporting children with an EHCP requiring specialist Speech, Language and Communication Needs provision.
• The Lyceum SRP, a grammar-aligned specialist provision, supporting students with an EHCP, including those with ASD, who have successfully passed the Medway and Kent 11+.

Sponsored by the University of Kent, the Trust benefits from a deep and active partnership with higher education. This includes ambassador programmes that directly support curriculum enrichment, mentoring, and aspiration-building for students. The Trust also works with professional sporting partners, including Chelsea and professional basketball organisations, to enhance student engagement, performance pathways, and enrichment opportunities.

UKATs mission is 

• Enriching communities through empowering inclusive education.
• To deliver high-quality, inclusive education that raises aspiration, removes barriers to learning, and equips every learner with the skills, confidence, and opportunity to succeed.

See the FAQs section below for more information.

Why UKAT?

UKAT’s culture and values are closely aligned to Fairview’s, with inclusion, development and empowerment running through both organisations for children, staff and the wider community.

UKAT schools benefit from being part of a wider system that combines local identity and freedom to deliver with central strength.

UKAT is a well-established multi-academy trust with a clear track record of:

• Strong school improvement outcomes
• High-quality leadership development
• Consistent teaching and learning frameworks
• Financial resilience and operational efficiency
• A culture of collaboration and high expectations

Fairview would be the first primary school in the trust, meaning we would play a key role in shaping its future development.

The trust’s link with the University of Kent brings valuable opportunities for our pupils, including access to specialist expertise and equipment, together with broader educational experiences.

What joining UKAT would mean for Fairview?

Joining UKAT would enable us to:

• Access a wider pool of specialist leadership and teaching expertise
• Strengthen our curriculum through shared, evidence-based frameworks
• Improve staff development through structured professional pathways
• Benefit from centralised support services (HR, finance, safeguarding, estates)
• Increase opportunities for pupil enrichment across a wider network of schools
• Enhance long-term financial and operational resilience

This is a move designed to raise standards and reduce operational burden, allowing school leaders to focus on teaching and learning.

But importantly, Fairview will be the same Fairview:

• The school’s name and identity will remain
• The school location will not change
• Our values and ethos will continue to guide daily life
• Children will still be taught by familiar staff
• Our commitment to the local community remains central

UKAT’s model is built on strength through unity, not uniformity.

Fairview Leadership and Governance

If approved:

• UKAT would become the legal governing body of the school
• A local governing body, still including roles for parents and staff, would continue to support and the challenge the school leadership to deliver for Fairview children.
• The Headteacher would retain responsibility for day-to-day leadership
• Strategic oversight would sit with UKAT’s Board of Trustees

This structure ensures clear accountability, strong leadership, and local engagement working together.

Staff development and culture

Our amazing staff are central to this proposal – because they deliver our children's school experience.

Joining UKAT would provide:

• Clear professional development pathways
• Leadership training and career progression opportunities
• Collaboration with peers across multiple schools
• Access to trust-wide expertise and coaching
• Reduced administrative burden through central support services

This is about building capacity, reducing pressure, and investing in people.

Admissions and community role

Admissions arrangements will remain in line with national regulations.

• The school will continue to serve its local community first and foremost.
• Strong partnerships with families will remain central to our approach.

We are not stepping away from the community — we are strengthening our ability to serve it.

In summary, what does this mean for pupils?

It is important to reassure you that joining a trust does not change the day-to-day experience for pupils. Fairview would continue to serve its local community, and our core values and ethos would remain central to everything we do.

We expect the children at Fairview to benefit from:

• Wider enrichment opportunities through trust collaboration
• Improved access to specialist teaching and resources
• A stable, well-supported school environment focused on high achievement

Our ambition is simple: every child achieving more, consistently and confidently.

Consultation process

We are committed to an open and transparent process.

Consultation period:

From: Monday 8^th June 2026 16:00
To: Saturday 4^th July 2026 23:59

You can share your views by:

• Complete the online consultation survey - click here
• Email us at academyresponses@fairviewprimary.medway.sch.uk
• Write to us, a postbox will be available at the school reception.
• Meet with governors, Fairview leadership and UKAT senior leaders at a drop-in session.  These are being held at the school on Tuesday 30^th June at 2.30pm and 5pm.
• Speaking directly with school leadership at drop-off / pick-up times / by a pre-arranged meeting

All feedback will be reviewed by the Governing Body before a final decision is made.

After the consultation

Following the consultation:

• The Governors will meet to consider all feedback from the consultation, and make a final decision.

• UKAT are also seeking views from their community via a separate consultation, and will undertake checks on Fairview (called due diligence).  The UKAT Trustees will meet to make a final decision.
• If both Fairview and UKAT agree to proceed, approval from the Department of Education will be sought.  We will keep you informed of decisions and progress.

If approved:

• structured transition planning with UKAT begins immediately.
• legal work is required to be undertaken with Medway Council.
• the exact date the school would formally change would likely be in the first few months of 2027, but to reiterate, this will make no change to the day-to-day functioning of the school.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an academy / academy trust?

An academy is a state school that’s funded by the government, but not run by the local council. It’s still free to attend, still inspected by Ofsted, and still has to follow the same rules on things like admissions and safeguarding. The difference is that it has more freedom over its curriculum, budget and staffing, so it can shape things to suit its pupils.

An academy trust is the organisation that runs one or more academies. It’s a not‑for‑profit charity with a board of trustees who make sure the school is well‑run, safe and using its money properly.

Is this decision to join UKAT already made?

No. However, the Governing Body is strongly minded to proceed but wants to understand the views of the school community via consultation before making a final decision.

Will the school lose its identity?

No. The school retains its name, ethos, and local character.

Will staff change?

Existing staff are protected at the point of transfer. Over time, there may be opportunities for development and new roles within the trust.

Will my child notice changes?

Day-to-day school life will remain familiar.

How do you know UKAT will provide the benefits described?

Both governors and senior leadership have been involved in the review process, which has included speaking to staff, pupils, leaders and governors from UKAT’s current schools in addition to meeting with central trust staff.  This has given us the opportunity to be certain that what UKAT does in practice is aligned to the vision and expectations.

Tell me more about UKAT

Chatham Grammar is currently an all-girls school and will transition to a mixed school for incoming Year 7 students from September 2026.

Brompton Academy is a non-selective secondary school with a specialist unit supporting pupils with a primary need of Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) on their Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

The joint sixth form enables pupils from both schools to access a wider and more flexible curriculum, aligned to their strengths, aspirations, and future pathways.

Both schools in the Trust are rated Good by Ofsted, reflecting consistent quality and strong leadership across the group.

In addition, investment in facilities continues to strengthen provision, including high-quality 3G pitches already in use and the development of 4G facilities underway, supporting both curriculum sport and wider community use.

The Trust is financially stable, economically well managed, and supported by a strong central team, ensuring consistent leadership, robust governance, and sustainable long-term planning. All schools are fully staffed, enabling continuity of provision and maintaining high standards of teaching, support, and student experience.

Please see their website for more information: www.universityofkentacademiestrust.org.uk

Why join a trust with no other primary schools?

At Fairview, we are very proud of the strength and depth of the leadership team that has been developed over several years.  We are confident, and UKAT agrees, that this means we are in a strong position to help UKAT grow in the future, which includes the aim of bringing more primary schools into the UKAT family.

Further, joining a Trust should not, and will not, mean we stop interacting with other local primary schools for informal mutual support.

Where other options considered

Yes.  The first consideration was if change was necessary at all, for the reasons set out above, it was agreed it was.

 The governors and SLT then undertook an exercise to determine the most important factors when assessing trusts.  We then discussed all the trusts in Medway, using publicly available information (such as trust and school websites, DfE information) to identify a small number of quite diverse Trusts for further consideration.  Governors and SLT visited some schools and met with leadership of the trusts.

Will my child have to attend a UKAT secondary school after Fairview?

No.  The application and admissions process is led by Medway and being part of a trust does not impact what secondary schools you can apply for.

Will this change impact Fledglings nursery?

No.  Fledglings is a separate business that operates on the school site.