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Creating a Free School Chain

Creating a Free School Chain. Rachel Wolf Director New Schools Network. The Landscape. Academy chains have been growing for some time Chains of independent schools already exist The first Free School groups are beginning to make further applications

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Creating a Free School Chain

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  1. Creating a Free School Chain Rachel Wolf Director New Schools Network

  2. The Landscape • Academy chains have been growing for some time • Chains of independent schools already exist • The first Free School groups are beginning to make further applications • Many groups aim to build chains over time

  3. Key Things to consider • What are the core things that bind the chain together? • What autonomy will schools within the chain have? • How will you balance a consistent model with independence for frontline teachers? • What new skills and people will you need? • What are the practical benefits and obstacles? • Is this actually right for you?

  4. NSN Support • NSN is looking at how we can support groups who want to • build chains • We will send out more information as we develop new • resources • Contact tomphilpott@newschoolsnetwork.org if you would • like to discuss this in more detail

  5. Developing a Federation Around Learning and Leadership David Carter Executive Principal Cabot Learning Federation

  6. The Cabot Learning Federation • CLF Academies in 2012 • John Cabot Academy joined in Sept 2007 • Bristol Brunel Academy joined in Sept 2007 • Bristol Metropolitan Academy joined in Sept 2009 • Hans Price Academy in Weston super Mare from April 2011 • King’s Oak Academy in South Glos from September 2011 • Bath Community Academy opening in September 2012

  7. The Cabot Learning Federation • Primary Academies from Sept 2012 • 2 are Sponsored Academies and 2 are Convertors • Hillfields Primary School- Minerva Primary Academy • Oldbury Court Primary School- Frome Vale Academy • Summerhill Junior School- Summerhill Academy • Begbrook Primary School- Begbrook Primary Academy

  8. Benefits of working in a Federation • The sum of the parts is greater than the individual components • Friendly competition • Principals lead across the Federation • School Centred school improvement • Single trust streamlines central services to create more capacity for learning • Staff Training • Greater choice & Opportunity for students

  9. “Collaboration for Outstanding Achievement” • Objective 1-To support all of our Academies on their journey to sustained Outstanding performance through partnership, support and collaboration • Objective 2-To develop, support and train our staff so that they can be inspirational leaders, outstanding teachers, and excellent supporters of student learning • Objective 3-To lead a sustainable future for the Cabot Learning Federation so that outstanding performance can be secured for future generations of students in our Academies

  10. Why Federation? The “So What” Question • What must the structure achieve? • Improved Outcomes for Children • Improved Support and Development for Staff • Improved Cohesion for Parents • Improved status of Education for the Community • Improved understanding in the Business Sector

  11. CLF Leadership Structure David Carter-Exec Principal CLF Strategic Leadership Team Cabot Learning Federation Principals & Director of Finance CLF Central Support Team Head of HR + 3 HR Assts Head of Finance + 3 Finance Assts PR and Comms, E learning and EP PA CLF Education AST English, Maths & Science, Leader of Training and Development, Primary Federation Team Leader

  12. Developing Teaching & Learning • Main Focus • To identify and share the best practice in teaching and learning across the four schools • Case Studies • To design and support school “swaps” & exchanges • To move teachers from Satisfactory to Good • To move teachers from Good to Outstanding • CLF target is 80% of observations show good or better • To enable, where appropriate, teachers and support staff to visit and work alongside colleagues from the other Academies

  13. Leadership Development Programmes Emerging Leaders Middle Leaders Emerging Senior Leaders Make connections for staff visits to schools across the UK and Overseas Boston USA and Finland CLF Study Tours when at least 1 Academy has INSET Day Coaching and Mentoring NQT and PCGE across CLF Appointment Directory Alumni Student Parliament Leadership Development Programme Senior Leaders on secondment Leadership and Succession Planning Hub

  14. CLF Vi Form Campus on 3 Academy Sites Student Parliament MP from each Year Group in Each Academy CLF Combination Sports Teams Rugby, Football (Boys and Girls), Netball, Hockey and Cricket CLF Arts Showcase Dance Company Theatre in Education VI Form BTEC Perf Arts CLF Arts team at Edinburgh Festival “Teachers of the Future” Gifted and Talented Year 9 Technology University Visits-Y10 and Y12 Summer School Student Development

  15. The Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) Governance Model Achievement and Teaching Sub Committee Cabot Learning Federation Board of Trustees - sponsored by Rolls Royce PLC and the University of the West of England. (15 members) Leadership, Curriculum & Behaviour Sub Committee Chairs of Academy Council Sub Committee Each academy has an academy council made up of 13 members-7 are appointed by sponsors and 6 represent the community Finance and General Purpose Sub Committee

  16. How a Secondary Orientated federation can add value to a cluster of Primary Academies

  17. What is the Vision? • Outstanding 4-19 Education for every child who attends a CLF Academy • From September 2012 a parent has the choice of a CLF Academy from Reception Class to Post 16 and with our University links to the age of 21

  18. Improving Capacity, Changing Cultures, Building Resilience 5 Core Strands Improving the Quality of teaching & learning Improving the quality & Impact of Leadership & Governance Improving the quality of Transition in a 4 to 19 Federation Improving the Quality and range of SEN and Welfare Provision Improving the Quality and Impact of Finance and HR Management

  19. The Role of the Executive Principal-How does it work? How does it compare with single School Leadership?

  20. The Core Role Coach and Mentor new Heads and SLT Deliver the CLF Leadership programmes QA the quality of education Lead learning reviews across both schools Talent Spot and Succession Plan Income generation Report to the CLF Board Observe lessons and share best practice with SLT Assemblies Unions, DFE, Press and Media, NCSL, EFA Partnership for Schools Federation Strategic Plans Relationship with Sponsors Facilitate teacher exchanges What does an Executive Principal do?

  21. The Implications & Advantages of running more than one School • Brand Identity • Accelerates schools improvement as the staff talent pool is greater • One contract-One workforce • Economies and Efficiencies of Scale • Creation of a central team for Finance and HR • Executive Leadership • Collective Responsibility for all students • The key… • Sharing Practice • Creating New Practice

  22. Patricia SowterExecutive Headteacher Cuckoo Hall Academies Trust

  23. Organisational Structure PRIMARY ACADEMIES SECONDARY CUCKOO HALL HERON HALL KINGFISHER HALL WOODPECKER HALL

  24. Cuckoo Hall Primary:One of the first primary academy converters • Became a Primary Academy September 2010 • An outstanding school – turned around from special measures • Autonomy and freedoms to improve education for children • Over-subscribed and high demand from parents

  25. From Primary School to Academy… … A seamless transition for pupils (and parents)

  26. The Context • A very large school: over 800 pupils • Over 50% EAL • Over 35% FSM • An area with very high levels of deprivation

  27. Key Ingredients For Success • Strong, focussed leadership • A relentless focus on literacy and mathematics • Robust systems and structures • Excellent teaching • High expectations for ALL children’s learning • A stimulating and wide-reaching curriculum • Strong partnership and communication with parents

  28. The Way Forward • Work with governors to define our own future and take control of our own destiny • Taking our vision further • The opening of our first Free School

  29. Woodpecker Hall Primary Academy • Opened September 2011 in temporary accommodation • A shared vision, but a separate school • Deployment of existing expertise to ensure success • High demand and over-subscribed • Moved to permanent site September 2012

  30. From Vision to Reality: Artist’s impression

  31. From Vision to Reality: Artist’s impression The completed school

  32. Cuckoo Hall Academies Trust • An over-arching Trust for governance • Consistency • Quality • Effective deployment of resources

  33. Kingfisher Hall Primary Academy • Opened September 2012 in temporary accommodation • Another ‘sister’ school within CHAT • Already fully subscribed • Will move to permanent site September 2013

  34. Heron Hall Academy:A Secondary “all-through” school • A long-held vision for our children to transfer to excellent secondary education • Demand from parents • Successful proposal: will open for 90 pupils in September 2013 • Building to 6 or 8 form of entry by September 2018

  35. Making It Happen • Never losing sight of the overall vision • Taking opportunities where possible • Responding to parental demand • “Creative thinking” (i.e. accommodation, deployment of resources and expertise)

  36. Sustainability and Future Planning Capacity-building Governance Leadership structure Business management Operational functions

  37. Building Capacity Developing our own leaders: Mentoring & Coaching Opportunities across the schools Appointment and induction of new teachers and teaching assistants Training our own teachers Operational Teams: Business & Finance Marketing & Project Management Human Resources

  38. The Future:An exciting partnership with Buckingham University • Training teachers with outstanding practitioners • Apprenticeship model • Sharing expertise across the primary and secondary sector

  39. We can ALL succeed!

  40. Thank You Thank You

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