Dear Parents, Carers and members of the community
Following many months of careful planning and collaboration, the governors at Deer Park Primary School are seeking to become an academy with Christopher Nieper Education Trust (CNET). We believe that becoming part of CNET is a really positive step forward for Deer Park Primary. This partnership will open up even more opportunities for our children to thrive and provide our staff with excellent support to ensure the very best for our children
RATIONALE
The current educational climate is changing and many schools nationally are choosing to take advantage of academy status. Many schools wish to make the move now to determine their own destiny and to make the changes when it is right for their own school.
As a consequence of the national picture and continued debate and growth of academies in England, after careful consideration, the school’s governing body wish to explore converting to an academy and, in particular, joining CNET; our application for academy status has been submitted. We now wish to consult with staff, parents and our local community to help determine whether the school should proceed with the conversion and we would like to invite your views on the matter.
The governors are keen that our school has full control of when and how we go forward, without pressure from Government departments.
THE PROPOSAL
The trust was formed in 2015 by Christopher Nieper OBE, who leads his family firm David Nieper Ltd. You might know of the company as it has been in business in Alfreton, Derbyshire for over 60 years and currently employs around 300 staff, having stayed loyal to local production.
CNET aims to give young people the powerful combination of a first-class academic education, relevant careers guidance and employability skills to give them every chance of becoming leaders and achievers of the future.
The Trust CEO is Dr. Kathryn Hobbs. To find out more about CNET you can log on to their website https://www.christopherniepereducation.org/ or join us at the meeting highlighted below.
The proposal is that we join CNET and become an academy in the academic year 2026/2027.
Following many months of careful planning and collaboration, the governors at Deer Park Primary School are seeking to become an academy with Christopher Nieper Education Trust (CNET). We believe that becoming part of CNET is a really positive step forward for Deer Park Primary. This partnership will open up even more opportunities for our children to thrive and provide our staff with excellent support to ensure the very best for our children
RATIONALE
The current educational climate is changing and many schools nationally are choosing to take advantage of academy status. Many schools wish to make the move now to determine their own destiny and to make the changes when it is right for their own school.
As a consequence of the national picture and continued debate and growth of academies in England, after careful consideration, the school’s governing body wish to explore converting to an academy and, in particular, joining CNET; our application for academy status has been submitted. We now wish to consult with staff, parents and our local community to help determine whether the school should proceed with the conversion and we would like to invite your views on the matter.
The governors are keen that our school has full control of when and how we go forward, without pressure from Government departments.
THE PROPOSAL
The trust was formed in 2015 by Christopher Nieper OBE, who leads his family firm David Nieper Ltd. You might know of the company as it has been in business in Alfreton, Derbyshire for over 60 years and currently employs around 300 staff, having stayed loyal to local production.
CNET aims to give young people the powerful combination of a first-class academic education, relevant careers guidance and employability skills to give them every chance of becoming leaders and achievers of the future.
The Trust CEO is Dr. Kathryn Hobbs. To find out more about CNET you can log on to their website https://www.christopherniepereducation.org/ or join us at the meeting highlighted below.
The proposal is that we join CNET and become an academy in the academic year 2026/2027.
QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK
Governors are now entering the consultation phase. We know that there has been much debate around academies in recent times and we would like to make sure that the entire school community has an opportunity to ask questions about what academy status means for our school.
The period of consultation will run from 13th April 2026 to 11th May 2026.
We would welcome the opportunity to talk to you about academy status and will be holding a meeting at school as follows:
Parent / carer meeting – Tuesday 28th April 2026 at 4.45pm
There are many ways you can have your say and ensure your views are heard. This can be by:
Governors are now entering the consultation phase. We know that there has been much debate around academies in recent times and we would like to make sure that the entire school community has an opportunity to ask questions about what academy status means for our school.
The period of consultation will run from 13th April 2026 to 11th May 2026.
We would welcome the opportunity to talk to you about academy status and will be holding a meeting at school as follows:
Parent / carer meeting – Tuesday 28th April 2026 at 4.45pm
There are many ways you can have your say and ensure your views are heard. This can be by:
- completing our online survey Deer Park School Academy Consultation – Fill in form
- emailing any questions and feedback to [email protected]
- asking questions at our meeting
- or scan the QR Code below to access the online survey
Attached to this letter are some FAQs, which you may find of interest. Information about the consultation can be found on the school website at https://deerpark.derbyshire.sch.uk/ under the academy consultation section of the school website. The academy consultation section on the school website will go live on 13th April 2026.
We would like to say a huge thank you for your ongoing support. We are incredibly proud of Deer Park Primary School and remain fully committed to providing the very best for our children, staff, families and the wider community that we serve.
We value your input during this transition. The consultation period will close at 12:00 pm on 11th May 2026. Following this, the Governors will meet to review all feedback and decide on the next steps for our school community.
Kind regards
Mrs. Annette Lupton Mr. Paul Addison
Headteacher Chair of Governors
Converting to an Academy - FAQs
WHY DO WE WANT TO BECOME AN ACADEMY?
1. What is an academy?An academy is an all-ability school that is directly funded by central government and independent of direct control by local government. Academies are inspected by Ofsted under the same framework as maintained schools. Academies are self-governing.
2. What is a Multi-Academy Trust?A Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) is a charitable company limited by guarantee which is formed to oversee a group of schools who are academies. The MAT is the employer of staff and holds the land and buildings of each academy in Trust.
3. How does governance work?The Board of Trustees are ultimately responsible for the work of the trust and the academies (schools). However, they devolve much of the responsibility to the individual academies and their respective local governing body. Each academy has its own governing body who work with the Headteacher to check that the academy is making good progress and add additional challenge and scrutiny to the work of the school. The academy Headteacher is always a governor for the time they are employed in that role.
The governing body has delegated powers from the Trust Board which will include areas such as curriculum, teaching and learning, pupil outcomes/progress, SEND, and safeguarding.
4. What is the role of the MAT Chief Executive Officer?They are the Accounting Officer for the trust and the strategic support for schools. The CEO is the key contact for the Regional Director and the DfE and acts as the point of first contact to ensure schools are not distracted from their core purpose of teaching and learning.
5. What are the reasons schools consider converting to academy status?
6. Why are we considering converting to an academy now?The current educational climate is changing and many schools nationally are choosing to take advantage of the benefits that becoming an academy brings. Many schools wish to make the move now to determine their own destiny and to make the changes when it is right for their own school.
As a successful school, gaining academy status would give us the autonomy to continue to develop and to maintain our high standards. Becoming part of a MAT will bring greater opportunities for working even more closely with other local schools and the wider trust community of schools.
7. What is Christopher Nieper Education Trust?The trust was formed in 2015 by Christopher Nieper OBE and aims to give young people a first-class education, relevant careers guidance and employability skills to give them every chance of future success.
The trust CEO is Dr. Kathryn Hobbs.
To find out more about CNET you can log on to their website https://www.christopherniepereducation.org/
8. Are any other schools in our local area academies?Yes, there are a number of academies in our region; however, all academies are different in the same way that every school is different.
CNET currently has four schools in the trust: David Nieper Academy (in Alfreton, Derbyshire), Stonebroom Primary & Nursey School which joined CNET on 1st October 2023, Shirland Primary School which joined CNET on 1st November 2024, and Mickley Village Primary & Nursery School which joined CNET on 1st May 2025.
9. What are the advantages of becoming an academy?Our governors and Headteacher believe that working together to ensure the highest standards across the trust is an exciting new proposition. We will also continue to actively work with all local schools and current partners, ensuring the best of both worlds. CNET has made it clear that academy status will not change the things that currently work so well for our school.
The Government has stated that the greater freedoms enjoyed by academies are designed to allow schools to develop and build on individual strengths in response to the needs of the community. We feel that the additional freedoms and flexibilities would enable the governors to better secure the long-term future of our school.
In addition to this, we believe that entering into a formal partnership with CNET will have a number of benefits for both our school and schools within the trust. These include a more targeted approach to the long-term future of schools within CNET, strengthening our local identity, pooling resources to improve teaching and management practice and greater control and management of our finances for the benefit of all our children.
10. What are the disadvantages of academy status?As an academy, there are a number of additional responsibilities placed on the school in terms of financial management and reporting. It is expected that on a day-to-day basis, children, their parents and carers, teachers and staff will not notice the difference if we became an academy. There will, however, be additional workloads during the conversion, for senior members of staff but we are confident we can manage these with support from the trust.
WHAT DAY-TO-DAY CHANGES WILL HAPPEN?
11. Will a move to academy status mean a new name for the school?No. The school will continue to be called Deer Park Primary School.
Please be assured that the character, ethos and values of our school would remain unchanged should academy conversion take place.
12. Would becoming an academy mean a new uniform?No. Parents will not need to buy a new uniform.
13. Would becoming an academy mean the school could still be open to the community?Yes. There will be no change to the current provision and use of the school by different groups to hold events.
14. What will be the impact on our children with special needs?There will be no change to the level of support provided. We will continue to recognise that every child is different and has the right to be included as a valued, respected and equal member of the school community.
15. Will the school hours be any different as an academy?Although it is highly unlikely that the school day will be changed, it is the decision of the CNET board whether this is changed. This decision is usually delegated to the local governing body of an academy, so there is no real change in this regard. As is the case now, parents would be consulted prior to any change in school hours, although no change is envisaged.
16. Will children’ education be disrupted by a transition to academy status?No. If conversion is approved, it will happen with minimal disruption to staff and students. Most of the changes will take place behind the scenes, with support from a dedicated team from the trust who have gone through this process before.
17. Will there be any changes to the Curriculum?No, we would be expected to continue to offer the full range of National Curriculum subjects. We will continue to ensure that what we teach is relevant to our children and their specific needs and continues to be broad and balanced.
WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR OUR SCHOOL FINANCES?
18. What about funding?The Department for Education meets the running costs for an academy. Academy funding is calculated on a like-for-like basis with local authority schools. Therefore, the academy will have a similar budget to when it was a maintained school. We already have greater freedom to procure services from other providers. In a MAT, there are further opportunities to realise cost efficiencies across the network and the academy will be able to make more efficient use of resources to support school improvement. Like other schools, an academy cannot run at a loss or agree a deficit budget, e.g., it has to break-even.
19. How will the school be accountable financially?An academy is governed by the rules and regulations for charitable trusts and company law, e.g., we will be required to produce and file accounts and trustees cannot be paid. There will be robust systems with an audit conducted by an external independent auditor.
WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF?
20. What will be the terms and conditions for staff?On conversion, teachers and staff currently employed by Derbyshire County Council will transfer with the same terms and conditions, via a formal TUPE (transfer of undertakings protection of employment) process, to become employees of CNET. Conversion will not affect any union memberships.
21. Who will employ teachers and staff following conversion?At present, teachers and other school staff are employed by Derbyshire County Council. Following conversion, they will be employed directly by Christopher Nieper Education Trust (CNET).
22. Will CNET employ non-qualified teachers?No. All class groups of children will be registered to a qualified teacher, as is the case in schools currently.
WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR STANDARDS?
23. Does CNET have the capacity to support our educational standards?The trust has established its own school improvement capacity for those schools choosing to become an academy - this includes a school improvement lead and regular use of education consultants.
Collectively, the team is experienced and well-qualified to support and challenge schools in data analysis, teaching, behaviour, safeguarding, children’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, special educational needs and disabilities, and leadership and management. The school improvement package will include support and challenge for governance and the team is able to draw on further support from national leaders in governance if appropriate.
24. What is the timescale for conversion?This will usually take 6-12 months, with conversions being official on the 1st of the month. It would be a smooth transition in which learners, staff and parents are unlikely to perceive any change, and no disruption to the normal running of the school. If we convert, the date would be determined with the Department for Education and we would let you know when it is confirmed.
1. What is an academy?An academy is an all-ability school that is directly funded by central government and independent of direct control by local government. Academies are inspected by Ofsted under the same framework as maintained schools. Academies are self-governing.
2. What is a Multi-Academy Trust?A Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) is a charitable company limited by guarantee which is formed to oversee a group of schools who are academies. The MAT is the employer of staff and holds the land and buildings of each academy in Trust.
3. How does governance work?The Board of Trustees are ultimately responsible for the work of the trust and the academies (schools). However, they devolve much of the responsibility to the individual academies and their respective local governing body. Each academy has its own governing body who work with the Headteacher to check that the academy is making good progress and add additional challenge and scrutiny to the work of the school. The academy Headteacher is always a governor for the time they are employed in that role.
The governing body has delegated powers from the Trust Board which will include areas such as curriculum, teaching and learning, pupil outcomes/progress, SEND, and safeguarding.
4. What is the role of the MAT Chief Executive Officer?They are the Accounting Officer for the trust and the strategic support for schools. The CEO is the key contact for the Regional Director and the DfE and acts as the point of first contact to ensure schools are not distracted from their core purpose of teaching and learning.
5. What are the reasons schools consider converting to academy status?
- To remain in charge of their own destiny as the government has a goal to encourage all schools to be academies or working towards academy status
- The Local Authority (LA) capacity is reducing and, in some cases, disappearing. Pooling the resources of a number of schools means we can re-create some of the services once received from the LA
- To develop the expertise of all staff to further improve effectiveness and outcomes for young people
- To generate financial efficiencies to invest back into the classroom for the benefit of all learners
6. Why are we considering converting to an academy now?The current educational climate is changing and many schools nationally are choosing to take advantage of the benefits that becoming an academy brings. Many schools wish to make the move now to determine their own destiny and to make the changes when it is right for their own school.
As a successful school, gaining academy status would give us the autonomy to continue to develop and to maintain our high standards. Becoming part of a MAT will bring greater opportunities for working even more closely with other local schools and the wider trust community of schools.
7. What is Christopher Nieper Education Trust?The trust was formed in 2015 by Christopher Nieper OBE and aims to give young people a first-class education, relevant careers guidance and employability skills to give them every chance of future success.
The trust CEO is Dr. Kathryn Hobbs.
To find out more about CNET you can log on to their website https://www.christopherniepereducation.org/
8. Are any other schools in our local area academies?Yes, there are a number of academies in our region; however, all academies are different in the same way that every school is different.
CNET currently has four schools in the trust: David Nieper Academy (in Alfreton, Derbyshire), Stonebroom Primary & Nursey School which joined CNET on 1st October 2023, Shirland Primary School which joined CNET on 1st November 2024, and Mickley Village Primary & Nursery School which joined CNET on 1st May 2025.
9. What are the advantages of becoming an academy?Our governors and Headteacher believe that working together to ensure the highest standards across the trust is an exciting new proposition. We will also continue to actively work with all local schools and current partners, ensuring the best of both worlds. CNET has made it clear that academy status will not change the things that currently work so well for our school.
The Government has stated that the greater freedoms enjoyed by academies are designed to allow schools to develop and build on individual strengths in response to the needs of the community. We feel that the additional freedoms and flexibilities would enable the governors to better secure the long-term future of our school.
In addition to this, we believe that entering into a formal partnership with CNET will have a number of benefits for both our school and schools within the trust. These include a more targeted approach to the long-term future of schools within CNET, strengthening our local identity, pooling resources to improve teaching and management practice and greater control and management of our finances for the benefit of all our children.
10. What are the disadvantages of academy status?As an academy, there are a number of additional responsibilities placed on the school in terms of financial management and reporting. It is expected that on a day-to-day basis, children, their parents and carers, teachers and staff will not notice the difference if we became an academy. There will, however, be additional workloads during the conversion, for senior members of staff but we are confident we can manage these with support from the trust.
WHAT DAY-TO-DAY CHANGES WILL HAPPEN?
11. Will a move to academy status mean a new name for the school?No. The school will continue to be called Deer Park Primary School.
Please be assured that the character, ethos and values of our school would remain unchanged should academy conversion take place.
12. Would becoming an academy mean a new uniform?No. Parents will not need to buy a new uniform.
13. Would becoming an academy mean the school could still be open to the community?Yes. There will be no change to the current provision and use of the school by different groups to hold events.
14. What will be the impact on our children with special needs?There will be no change to the level of support provided. We will continue to recognise that every child is different and has the right to be included as a valued, respected and equal member of the school community.
15. Will the school hours be any different as an academy?Although it is highly unlikely that the school day will be changed, it is the decision of the CNET board whether this is changed. This decision is usually delegated to the local governing body of an academy, so there is no real change in this regard. As is the case now, parents would be consulted prior to any change in school hours, although no change is envisaged.
16. Will children’ education be disrupted by a transition to academy status?No. If conversion is approved, it will happen with minimal disruption to staff and students. Most of the changes will take place behind the scenes, with support from a dedicated team from the trust who have gone through this process before.
17. Will there be any changes to the Curriculum?No, we would be expected to continue to offer the full range of National Curriculum subjects. We will continue to ensure that what we teach is relevant to our children and their specific needs and continues to be broad and balanced.
WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR OUR SCHOOL FINANCES?
18. What about funding?The Department for Education meets the running costs for an academy. Academy funding is calculated on a like-for-like basis with local authority schools. Therefore, the academy will have a similar budget to when it was a maintained school. We already have greater freedom to procure services from other providers. In a MAT, there are further opportunities to realise cost efficiencies across the network and the academy will be able to make more efficient use of resources to support school improvement. Like other schools, an academy cannot run at a loss or agree a deficit budget, e.g., it has to break-even.
19. How will the school be accountable financially?An academy is governed by the rules and regulations for charitable trusts and company law, e.g., we will be required to produce and file accounts and trustees cannot be paid. There will be robust systems with an audit conducted by an external independent auditor.
WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF?
20. What will be the terms and conditions for staff?On conversion, teachers and staff currently employed by Derbyshire County Council will transfer with the same terms and conditions, via a formal TUPE (transfer of undertakings protection of employment) process, to become employees of CNET. Conversion will not affect any union memberships.
21. Who will employ teachers and staff following conversion?At present, teachers and other school staff are employed by Derbyshire County Council. Following conversion, they will be employed directly by Christopher Nieper Education Trust (CNET).
22. Will CNET employ non-qualified teachers?No. All class groups of children will be registered to a qualified teacher, as is the case in schools currently.
WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR STANDARDS?
23. Does CNET have the capacity to support our educational standards?The trust has established its own school improvement capacity for those schools choosing to become an academy - this includes a school improvement lead and regular use of education consultants.
Collectively, the team is experienced and well-qualified to support and challenge schools in data analysis, teaching, behaviour, safeguarding, children’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, special educational needs and disabilities, and leadership and management. The school improvement package will include support and challenge for governance and the team is able to draw on further support from national leaders in governance if appropriate.
24. What is the timescale for conversion?This will usually take 6-12 months, with conversions being official on the 1st of the month. It would be a smooth transition in which learners, staff and parents are unlikely to perceive any change, and no disruption to the normal running of the school. If we convert, the date would be determined with the Department for Education and we would let you know when it is confirmed.