Taking Barcombe school forward Sheila Holden Governor

CONTEXT A highly successful school – OUTSTANDING Duty to share expertise To assist others improve To deliver more consistent primary education in the wider area. Small schools are increasing difficult to sustain because: Too few potential head teachers; Difficulties in recruiting, retaining and developing high quality teachers; Isolation makes individual schools less attractive; Costs/pupil are high – budgets are at risk. We cannot expect to stay as we are!

OBJECTIVES – what we want in the future Happy and highly motivated children High quality education with high standards of progress and attainment Continued culture of success High quality leadership Outstanding teachers – developed and retained Continued close ties with the community Highly motivated staff Positive approaches to partnership – leading the way Prepared for budget pressures

Why work in Partnership Partnership can help deliver: Shared leadership; Career development opportunities for staff; Shared learning experiences for staff and pupils; Building capacity that will stay in our group of schools; Developing talent across a group of schools. The best way of addressing teacher/head shortages AND coping with inevitable financial constraints

FEDERATE Benefits: Stability and sustainability of high quality leadership and teachers Teachers less isolated with opportunities for planning, assessment and moderation support Higher quality support and professional development to all staff. Children access shared pool of resources and talent. Communities working separately and together creating diversity and opportunities for children to meet new friends. Support for children in transition to secondary schools. Improved financial stability Risks: Not having a single Head Teacher within the school. Perception for the potential for a lowering of standards Possible dilution of the Christian distinctiveness

WE are aiming for Small school feel, but with big school resources Keeping the rural ethos of the existing schools, but mixing it with the advantages of a large town school and all that can offer

What we have achieved so far June – November 2016 For Children and Parents: Opportunities for children at different schools to work collaboratively. (Big Sing, Voice in a Million, Pantomime) Access to more after school clubs. Greater access to more resources to support the curriculum. Greater emphasis on physical and mental health and wellbeing. Greater sporting opportunities / attendance of local competitions. Extremely high expectations of teaching and learning.

What we have achieved so far June – November 2106 For Staff and Governors: Appointed and promoted outstanding staff to leadership positions with more accountability. Support with planning and teaching ideas in parallel year groups across schools. Created a new joint curriculum for three schools with an amalgamation of old curriculum ideas. Created a multi school staffing organisation. Shared INSET, staff meetings, targeted Professional Development. Shared moderation of children’s work opportunities. Sharing of high quality teaching and learning practices. Shared assessment system. Shared Health and Wellbeing Coordinator Improved targeting and support for children with identified SEN / vulnerable children.

PLANS FOR THIS ACADEMIC YEAR More opportunities for collaborative / shared practice with children in all schools (physically and electronically). Shared school trips. Shared curriculum / learning enrichment activities. Greater access to after school activities and clubs. High quality subject leadership of all curriculum subjects. Continued sharing of resources. Further support to improve teaching, learning and assessment.

Plans for the next 5-10years Three schools with happy children and parents. One strategic governing body with Outstanding leadership. A shared vision of the highest quality teaching and learning underpinned by individual and unique village school ethos. Three Outstanding schools. Shared learning enrichment activities across schools. Working with Universities /Secondary schools to support curriculum development and future aspirations for children. Financial benefits of working together Stable high quality experienced leadership and succession planning. Focused / targeted professional development opportunities. Shared resources across all schools.