Capacity Building

1. Capacity Building Roddensvale School A Case Study

2. What the inspectors said … • A notable feature is the excellent ethos of celebration and the breadth of enriching curriculum activities which are offered to the pupils. There is an explicit and clear sense of purpose shared by the staff and underpinned by high expectations of the pupils.

3. Mission Statement • We spend time developing our mission statement and aims. • These are child centred and that drives all that we do in raising capacity for everyone involved with the school

4. Background Information • Roddensvale School has 85 pupils, 11 teachers and over 30 classroom assistants • We have 1 VP and 2 senior managers • We all embrace professional development to build capacity • Governors are long serving and highly skilled • We have developed our school community as a resource

5. We have put a great deal into staff development • We audit areas of need through subject coordinators • We target staff development matched to the needs of the school • We link staff development to our school development plan • We utilize our staff expertise for in-service • We also use our school based health professionals to build capacity

6. We have also enabled others • We organized a menu day for NEELB (Feb 09) • We developed a reading scheme with CCEA • We also developed our own internal school reading scheme • We have had associate teachers on the partnership management board. • We have links with Stranmillis (3rd year music students)

7. Enabling (continued) • We have delivered ABA In-service training at menu days and for the Area Learning Community • We took an Educational Visit to South Carolina (including 12 from the Roddensvale Choir) • We attend courses in England and after school • Staff complete a proforma after every course and state how they will disseminate what they have learned • We started an early intervention project which has led to the development of a nursery • We have piloted a range of courses for pupils based on need

8. What do parents think?

9. This survey was anonymous

10. No money changed hands!

11. We are proud of the results

12. Parents seem to value what we do

13. We also asked staff

14. This also was anonymous

15. This helps us prioritise

16. Try this in your school!

17. We have built capacity • We attended our area learning community inset day • We established a SENCO sub group • We coordinated the meetings and set the agenda based on the needs of the group • We aspire to develop this and also assist our primary schools in the area

18. We have experienced some barriers to building capacity • We feel there is a lack of strategic planning • There is a lack of time/money/resources • We all have too much stress/pressure • Legal cases have been an issue and even though we won they have influenced relationships with parents • Job Evaluation/Appointments etc have undermined staff working relations

19. We recognised some positives for capacity building • Having an informed SDP drawing from surveys and self evaluation helps • We try to be inclusive with policies and decision making • We have positively recruited staff with expertise • We aim to secure good staff working relationships • We have used professional development opportunities such as PQH to drive capacity • We find a positive mission statement and aims developed by all staff assists us

20. What works for me? • I have found that attending RELEVANT courses is productive • I network with like minded colleagues • I encourage autonomy • I try to develop good leaders • I delegate! • I often bring buns on Friday!! • I try to get a life outside school!!!!