9th June 2025
Stakeholder Consultation Letter Dear Stakeholders,
Re: Application to the Department for Education to Approve a Significant Change to St Martins School 6th Form I am writing to inform you of a proposed significant change to St Martins School 6th Form, part of Shaw Education Trust, a specialist secondary school dedicated to supporting students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We invite your views as part of a formal consultation process required by the Department for Education (DfE) to request a significant change to our existing registration. St Martins School 6th Form currently operates from the Irongate site in Derby. We are proposing to relocate the provision to the Friar Gate Studios site in Derby, subject to approval from the DfE. This move constitutes a significant change and therefore requires a formal Tier 1 application under the DfE’s guidance for making significant changes to academies.
Background to the Proposal
The relocation is intended to enhance the learning environment for our 6th Form students by providing improved facilities and access to wider curriculum opportunities as part of the Local Authority vision to create a Post-16 Hub for young people with SEND in Derby City. The Friar Gate Studios site offers modern infrastructure, improved accessibility, capacity to grow the provision, as well as closer proximity to other educational and community services that can support our students’ development and transition into adulthood.
Why We Are Consulting
As part of the DfE’s statutory process, we are required to consult with key stakeholders who may be affected by or have an interest in this proposed change. These stakeholders include parents, students, staff, local authorities, and the wider community. We are committed to ensuring that this change is implemented in the best interests of our students and the wider school community, and we value your feedback as part of this process.
Have Your Say
The consultation period will run for 3 weeks from 10/06/2025 to 01/07/2025. During this Sabrina Hobbs Principal St Martins School, The Derwent Campus, Bracknell Drive, Alvaston, Derby, DE24 0BT Tel: 01332 571151 Email: admin@stmartins.set.org Online: www.stmartinsschoolderby.co.uk The Shaw Education Trust Limited is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England (no 09067175) Registered address: Shaw Education Trust, Kidsgrove Secondary School, Gloucester Road, Kidsgrove, ST7 4DL. The details of our academies registered as business names can be found at www.shaweducation.org.uk.