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Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust
Place Group has assisted the Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust throughout a rapid period of growth, and in partnership have grown the Trust from 17 to 25 high quality schools with more growth planned.
So far, we have:
- Collaborated with the Trust to create a strategic business and operational plan to support their growth ambitions.
- Overseen 8 academy conversions.
- Applied for, and been successful in receiving funding on the Trust’s behalf.
- Procured and overseen the implementation of a new Trust-wide catering contract and HR and Payroll solution.
“Place Group has been instrumental in fuelling our growth journey, offering invaluable support every step of the way. With the recent addition of our 25th school, they have been a crucial partner, revolutionising our operations and propelling us far beyond our future growth objectives.”
Stephen Barrett, Chief Operating Officer
West Midlands Growth Company
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Place Group supported West Midlands Growth Company to develop a tender response for the Global Diatomic Programme (Digital Innovation Transformative Change) contract, to generate inward investment for West Midlands based SMEs and to establish a cleantech hub across the region. The tender was successful with Connected Places Catapult awarding the contract to WMGC.
“Place Group worked with us to put a strategic procurement plan in place for the next year and then continue to provide us with ad-hoc support as and when we need additional capacity to implement on the strategy.”
“We’ve formed a fantastic partnership with them and one I’d wholly recommend to others looking for both strategic and tactical support.”
Pip Abercromby, Finance and Commercial Director
West Midlands Metro
“Place Group provide a procurement resource hub to support critical contracts for Midland Metro; high quality and committed consultants that quickly have become part of our in-house team. Place Group provides efficient and knowledgeable resource and always delivers excellent results. I’d have no hesitation in recommending them.”
Wajid Hussain, Finance Manager
Christ Church Secondary Academy
Place Group has developed an ongoing relationship with Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust (BDMAT). We supported the pre-opening phase of Christ Church Secondary Academy after helping to produce the successful free schools application. The establishment is now ready to welcome students in September 2021. We also advised and supported BDMAT with the academisation processes.
To find out more about the new Christ Church Secondary Academy please click here
“Place Group is delighted to have supported Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust to help deliver a brand new secondary school for the Yardley Wood community in Birmingham. Christ Church Secondary Academy will open its doors for the first time this September to welcome its founding Year 7 students.”
Vackas Mohammed, Client Manager
Edgar Wood Academy
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Place Group was appointed in January 2020 by the Altus Education Partnership to provide pre-opening support for the Edgar Wood Academy which was proposed to open in September 2022. However, due an urgent need for school places, the school opening date was moved forward to September 2021 following discussions with the DfE and LA. Place Group was able to mobilise quickly and accelerate all work streams in order to help deliver a school earlier than originally proposed.
This included principal designate benchmarking, governance, finance, education policy development, section 10 consultation and capital works. We also helped develop and implement a comprehensive marketing strategy which helped ensure the school was oversubscribed for the first year of operation.
Brian Clarke Church of England Academy
Place Group is currently supporting Brian Clarke Church of England Academy , which was approved by Department for Education in 2019, with its pre-opening responsibilities. The secondary school will be operated by Cranmer Education Trust and will open in Oldham in September 2022.
Place Group are helping to ensure that the establishment can recognise its potential and be truly multi-faith, multi-ethnic and multi-talented. We are supporting with pre-opening governance, finance, section 10 consultation and the necessary capital works.
National Autistic Society – Vanguard School
The National Autistic Society appointed Place Group to help support the pre-opening phase of the Vanguard school in 2018. The Vanguard School is an autism specific free school providing educational day places for students aged 11-19 and was the third school to join the National Autistic Society Academies Trust (NASAT). Place Group was commissioned to provide overarching project management services including capital project management support, section 10 consultation, governance and education policy development support.
Place Group also worked with the National Autistic Society’s internal marketing and HR departments to ensure deliverables were successfully completed. Following the successful opening of the Vanguard School, Place Group was appointed to support the Trust with an additional project.
New House Farm CofE Primary School
Place Group worked on the successful application for New House Farm CofE Primary School on behalf of Derby Diocesan Board of Education, and is now supporting its pre-opening, which covers themes such as governance, finance, stakeholder consultation and capital works
Place Group also supported Derby Diocesan Board of Education with the successful application for pre-opening and opening of Derby Cathedral School in September 2019. Building further on our relationship with Derby Diocesan Board of Education, Place Group recently supported the production of a Wave 14 free schools programme application.
Derby Cathedral School
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Place Group has developed an ongoing relationship with Derby Diocesan Academy Trust (DDAT) which was formed in response to the national academy and free school programmes. Place Group provided a comprehensive pre-opening service to the Trust, including principal designate recruitment, governance, finance, marketing, education policy development and section 10 consultation.
Derby Cathedral school opened successfully in 2018 with 180 Year 7 students and was oversubscribed for the first year of operation. Place Group has continued to work with DDAT on a number of additional projects.
Wynyard Primary School
Wynyard Church of England Primary School opened in September 2015 as part of a new development at Wynyard. As a school serving a brand-new housing estate, the Trust was presented with significant challenges. Place Group was appointed to provide project management support for the pre-opening phase including advice on governance, education, finance and stakeholder consultation.
“Place Group was very good at building and maintaining a relationship with the DfE which was crucial to the success of the project. We would definitely use Place Group again.”
Paul Rickeard, Diocesan Director of Education, Durham and Newcastle
Seva School
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Seva School was the first all-through Sikh faith school in Coventry. Place Group was appointed to provide project management support for the pre-opening phase including advice on governance, finance, stakeholder consultation and capital works.
“The team were very good and provided some excellent input. Place Group developed an excellent relationship with the DfE which helped a great deal. The Project Manager was clearly an integral part of the Seva team and we worked well together. He brought in the right people at the right times. Place provided a good quality service – it did not feel that Place Group was working with other schools – it felt like a personalised service.”
Tarsem Singh, Sevak Education Trust
The Orchards
The Orchards was the first special free school in Trafford and caters for 4 – 11 years old students with complex learning needs. The Orchards is operated by The Dunham Trust which also operates Elmridge Primary School and Acre Hall Primary School. The Dunham Trust appointed Place Group to provide project management support for the pre–opening phase including advice on governance, education, finance and stakeholder consultation.
“The Project Manager guided the project with skill and determination. The approach was highly professional with a human face, this was much appreciated. The Project Manager was an excellent lead, he created trusted relationships with the DfE and EFA which was invaluable.”
Jo Appleyard, Executive Principal, The Dunham Trust