St James Academy Consultation
The Governing Body of the Surrey Oak Federation, which has now become the Governing Body of St James CofE Aided Primary School, had been carefully considering the school’s future in an increasingly challenging educational landscape.
The Governors believe that the best plan moving forwards is for St James CofE Aided Primary School to become an academy and join the Good Shepherd Trust. The Governing Body accordingly applied to become an academy under the Academies Act 2010 within The Good Shepherd Trust. It is now consulting on whether the school’s conversion to academy status should take place. The information enclosed on this page is the beginning of that process: a summary of what becoming an academy means, and how to comment on the proposals.
The consultation period will run from Wednesday 17 September 2025 to midday Wednesday 29 October 2025.
On 14 October school leaders, Lizzie Geffen, Chairman of Governors, and Paul Kennedy, CEO of the Good Shepherd Trust hosted our Consultation Meeting. They presented the rationale for becoming an academy and took questions from parents and staff about academy status and how this will affect the school. .
If you weren't able to join us, you can still review the presentation slides and Q&As here.
You can find out more about the Good Shepherd Trust by following the link. The Good Shepherd Trust
You can let us know your views in the following ways:
By completing the online response form: https://forms.office.com/e/S7FD91SixM
The link will start accepting responses from Wednesday 29 September 2025, giving you an opportunity to find out more before replying.
At our public meetings.
By emailing: rdunnage@st-james-elstead.surrey.sch.uk
Below are the consultation documents which contain further information and FAQs.
2025 10 14 Consultation meeting slides & questionsConsultation Letter to Stakeholders