On school improvement

Handbooks, texts and toolkits for supporting School Improvement through team learning  

School improvement continues to be a top of mind agenda and perhaps most importantly is now every body’s business. Heads, governors, senior school leaders will need to harness the collective efforts of teachers, pupils, administrators, support staff, parents, local authorities, community organisations, local business and other stakeholders to ensure that improvement strategies impact on learning and performance that enhances the achievements and attainment of pupils in a consistent manner.

New ways of leading, new forms of leadership, the nurturing and development of talent and leadership at all levels within the school are now essential elements for driving school improvement through collaborative and cooperative partnerships and networks with parents and the wider community. School improvement ie strategies and actions concerned with improving the quality and performance of teachers and schools should be consistent and closely aligned with strategies and actions for enhancing school effectiveness i.e. the focus on student outcomes and the characteristics of schools and classrooms.

This inside/outside partnership and collaborative approach can enhance the development of the school as a “learning organisation” which is fostered by all teach: all learn strategies, peer coaching, peer mentoring, closer team working and tighter team support as well as whole school staff development strategies and schools receiving earmarked funds for staff development. The evidence clearly points out that “schools with little team collaboration might expect to find a large variation in the performance of pupils. In a well-led and managed school, there is likely to be less variation and greater consistency across the school... this results in the “school effect” - adding value to that of individual teachers.”

Through team work, schools can become more effective at creating visions as to where they want to go; consulting widely with pupils, governors, school staff, parents and community groups, making decisions, sustaining partnership working, prioritising projects, implementing action plans, delivering impact and becoming better at what they do through reflective practice and self evaluation.