Introduction

Kitts Green Academy is proposing a change to its age range. The academy admits children and young people with an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plan, with school referrals made through Local Authorities that have named the school in individual children’s EHC plans.

This change has been identified as necessary by Birmingham City Council and Thrive Education Partnership due to students currently leaving Kitts Green at the end of Year 9 and beginning their Key Stage 4 education at other schools. This transition is disruptive and has a significant detrimental effect on the well-being of the young people involved.

What Is Being Proposed?

Kitts Green Academy currently caters to children in Years 2–9. It is proposed that the age range will gradually change (as outlined below) to cater to children in academic Years 5–11.

Proposed Phasing of the Age Range Change

Academic Year	Age Range
2026/2027	Year 3 to Year 10
2027/2028	Year 4 to Year 11
2028/2029 onwards	Year 5 to Year 11

Positive Impacts

The proposed age range change is designed to enhance the educational experience for students while maintaining the integrity of the existing school environment. Key benefits include:

• Enhanced specialist facilities: New specialist facilities for Key Stage 4 courses are planned, which will also be accessible to students in other key stages.
• Greater continuity: The revised age range will ensure that students can begin their Key Stage 2 education at Kitts Green and remain at the school until the end of Key Stage 4, providing consistency and security for children and their families.
• Increased community support: By adapting the age range, the academy can better meet the growing demand for special education provision in the region.

Consultation Process

As this proposal represents a "significant change," we are required to conduct a consultation in line with Department for Education (DfE) guidance. We are committed to keeping all stakeholders informed and ensuring they have meaningful opportunities to provide feedback.

Approval Process

When an academy trust proposes significant changes to a school’s characteristics, approval from the Department for Education is required. This includes a formal consultation process, as mandated by the Academies Act 2010. The publication of this document marks the beginning of the consultation process, which will be overseen by Thrive Education Partnership.

The guidelines for this process are outlined in Making Significant Changes to an Academy.

Steps in the Consultation Process

1. Launch of Consultation
   This document will be distributed on Wednesday, 5th November 2025, and a notice of consultation will be published on the Thrive Education Partnership and Kitts Green Academy websites.
2. Consultation Period
   The consultation period will run for three weeks, closing on Wednesday, 26th November 2025. Stakeholders are invited to review the proposal and submit feedback.
3. Review of Feedback
   At the end of the consultation period, the Trust will review and consider all submitted comments.
4. Submission to the Regional Schools Commissioner
   Once feedback has been reviewed, the Trust will submit the proposal, along with consultation responses, to the Regional Schools Commissioner for approval as part of the significant change process.

How to Share Your Views

Thrive Education Partnership welcomes feedback through the following channels:

• By post:
  Thrive Education Partnership
  3rd Floor, 18 Bennetts Hill
  Birmingham
  B2 5QJ
   
• By email:
  enquiry@thrive.ac
   
• By electronic form:
  https://forms.office.com/e/L18EjqcJGM

We appreciate your engagement in this process and look forward to your feedback as we work to expand and enhance the provision at Kitts Green Academy.

Consultation FAQs