With the DfE's recent proposals for academisation in mind, the local authority has been engaging with schools on what the future for education in the city may look like. Here are some models from other authorities that are being explored...
•Dorset
Partnership between LA and schools; focuses on vulnerable pupils. All schools are members. School Improvement system is owned and driven by schools. LA has statutory function in ensuring quality provision and facilitating improvement.
•Hertfordshire
Herts Learning – 520 shareholders – not for profit company that reinvests money to improve services. Offers teaching, learning, leadership & business support for schools. The council commissions core services from the firm and is its biggest customer.
•Wigan
Schools work together in 8 autonomous consortia to support self-improvement. A school improvement board monitors the work. Resources and expertise are pooled to improve teaching standards and learning. The council provides funding and works with the consortia to identify those who are under-performing.
•Durham
Educational Development Service (2002) merged with the LA’s School Improvement service to monitor, challenge and intervene in schools as well as provide consultancy, training & development and advisory work.
•Lincoln
Responsibility for improvement rests with local headteachers, based around peer review. Training for peer review funded by LA. Where peers don’t agree this leads to professional dialogue. Group of heads appointed as panel of experts to identify broader trends in the outcomes of the peer reviews/how lessons can be learnt. The panel then advises the LA on where to focus school improvement resources. Led by the area’s forum for governors and headteachers (LA funded). In addition, LA works with the 9 Teaching Schools through Lincolnshire Teaching Schools Together.
