Exchanging Excellence: Closing Gaps Herts for Learning Conference July 7 th 2014

1. Exchanging Excellence: Closing Gaps Herts for Learning Conference July 7th 2014 Key findings of the research David Birch and Marc Rowland

2. Aims • To highlight good practice, good process and innovative case studies in spending the Pupil Premium, to include a range of geographical areas and contexts • To highlight schools that have improved outcomes for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, showing evidence of impact • To highlight how schools are effectively recording, measuring and evaluating the impact of the Pupil Premium.

3. Objectives • To highlight how schools are ensuring that other groups of pupils, including higher attainers, are reaching their potential • To draw in national expertise and current HfL projects and initiatives.

4. And …. • To build a local resource of intelligence and partnership between schools, Teaching School Alliances and Herts for Learning • To inform the wider debate about the effectiveness of the pupil premium and raising attainment for other groups

5. Scope of the Research • Visits to 19 primary, 11 secondary and 2 special schools: a cross-section of good practice in a variety of settings, taking into account known good practice (eg the RANGe project) • Four focus group meetings with Teaching Alliances • A survey sent to all Hertfordshire schools • Meetings with HfL advisers and officers

6. What schools do well • They are aware of national research • 1-1 and small group support, focused on literacy/numeracy and hq feedback • Tracking and monitoring PP spending • Support for basic need • Enrichment and opportunity • Support for high attainers

7. Barriers and challenges • Parental and community engagement: low aspirations and the social and cultural gap • Impact of multiple needs of vulnerable groups • Transition • Raising awareness among staff: developing a culture of high expectations

8. Evaluating Impact • Regular pupil progress meetings • Comprehensive data analysis and tracking • Tracking need and provision based on an ‘intersectionality’ approach • Class context sheets for all teachers and RAG rated reports • Provision maps and graduated intervention scales • Pupil voice • Learning walks, work scrutiny and pupil shadowing

9. Keys to success in closing gaps • Resolute leadership • Positive partnerships with parents • Enhancing opportunities and providing enrichment • Ensuring smooth transitions

10. Partnership with parents • Hard to reach parents or hard to reach schools? • The importance of key workers • Involving parents in learning: family workshops • Involving parents in spending the PPG • Outreach into the community • Engaging parents well before transition

11. Enrichment and opportunity • Early addressing of deficits in creativity and cultural capital • Learning outside the classroom: trips and visits • Access to music and the arts • Access to individual HE and careers advice & guidance and work experience placements

12. Transition • Consistency year on year: building relationships with partner schools • Transfer of key data and information • Early contact with parents: ‘family transfer’ • Transition activities: extra visits, summer camps • A personalised programme for all PP children

13. Recommendations • Sharing best practice: further case studies to inform CPD • Provide training in the impact of interventions • Further training and support for Governor PP champions • Recruit and develop high quality teachers where recruitment is a barrier to the progress of vulnerable groups • Support the development of metacognitive approaches

14. Recommendations • Support schools with further research-based programmes such as ‘Growth Mind-sets’ • Develop programmes that support schools in the key themes identified in this report which add value to PP pupils • Co-produce with schools a suite of audit and impact tools to support progress in key themes • Support schools in further engaging parents in their children’s learning.

15. Contacts • http://www.hertsforlearning.co.uk/content/exchanging-excellence • exchanging.excellence@hertsforlearning.co.uk • david@nationaleducationtrust.net • marc@nationaleducationtrust.net