Subcontracting Policy

Introduction

This policy covers the use of sub-contractors to deliver courses for students on roll at Lime Hills Academy.

It includes:

• the rationale for sub-contracting
• the financial arrangements
• quality assurance processes

It is an ESFA requirement to have this policy in place and for it to be reviewed annually. It must be published on the Lime Hills Academy and CLF website by 31st October of each calendar year and be approved by the CLF Board.

Sub-Contracting Detail and Rationale

The CLF subcontracts with 3 partners:

• Boomsatsuma Education Limited – partner since 2017/18
• Bristol School of Acting – partner since 2022/23 (previously part of Boomsatsuma)
• Robins Foundation – partner since 2020/21

All three providers offer unique courses to the Bristol and wider area operating in the creative industries and in sports coaching that cannot be found elsewhere. They complement Lime Hills Academy’s specialised curriculum and progression into the creative digital and high-tech sectors. They are firmly linked with the industries that support them and operate within facilities that seek to complement the course offer and inspire pupils. Courses offered by our partners have strong progression routes onto degree courses that are offered at the same sites and by the same providers.

The course offer includes:

• Digital Media Production
• Games VR & VFX
• Film and Television
• Sports Media
• Professional Acting
• Dance
• Sports Coaching and Development
• Extended Diploma in Sport
• Extended Diploma in Esports

Employability is significantly stronger than anywhere else in the sector locally and offer valuable routes into the creative industry that is so particular to the Bristol context and linked to the wider employability goals for the area.

Rationale for using partners:

• To raise participation of young people in level 3 courses; including widening the availability of Level 3 to pupils who would not normally be accepted onto Level 3 courses in traditional Sixth Form and College settings.
• To focus on supporting pupils at risk of being Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) and who are Looked After.
• To develop courses and curriculum pathways that are deeply embedded in key sectors, in-line with the present demands of industry in this region. These pathways place young people with employers in real sector contexts; this is providing provision that uniquely readies young people for their future.
• To address the need of young people to do real work as part of their learning in real workspaces. So that they are uniquely well-prepared for their progression onto positive destinations.
• To organise curriculum pathways, in-line with the aims of Lime Hills Academy, that are linked to the needs of industry and subjects that are both innovative, motivating and enabling for young people.
• To offer unique opportunities to our pupils in expert provisions that are not offered elsewhere in Bristol.
• To support pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, access a wide range of courses.

All partnerships arrangements are reviewed on an annual basis and have an annual contract refresh where appropriate.

Financial Arrangements

It is important that the funding follows the pupils and is used to provide maximum impact on our pupil’s experience and outcomes. Our financial arrangements ensure that most of the core funding is passed to the partners as they deliver 100% of the course content.

We retain different values for our partners depending upon on the support services provided and we review this arrangement on an annual basis:

• For two partners who have more in-house expertise, we retain 7% of the core funding
• For one partner we retain 8% of the core funding as we provide additional SEN and specialist support

All education health care plan (EHCP) funding is passed on to the specific partner to provide direct support to that pupil and all other tutoring funding etc is shared on a per pupil basis.

The funding retained by CLF is used to cover:

• All quality assurance processes from educational scrutiny, safeguarding, special educational needs, quality of teaching and assessments
• Advice and guidance for partners
• Data processing and returns and exam entries
• Financial oversight and administrative functions

Summary

The courses offered by our partners are an important part of our overall offer to our pupils, it builds career pathways and provide unique opportunities. They are established partners of our Trust and deliver exceptional academic outcomes and educational experiences for our pupils.