Whatfield School Why Collaborate?

There are 4 key reasons to consider collaboration Raising standards Improving teaching and learning Extending opportunities for all pupils and teaching professionals Financial sustainability (particularly for small schools)

There are 4 key reasons to consider collaboration Raising Standards Improving Teaching and Learning The key focus of Ofsted and the Government is to raise standards of education Both Whatfield and Bildeston have aspirations to give the very best education for their pupils It is now widely recognised that local alliances and collaborations allow schools to share knowledge and expertise giving a richer learning experience for pupils Benefits for the pupils must be at the heart of the collaboration As with all professions, education professionals need to be challenged to develop and use new methods of teaching to raise the attainment of their pupils. This can be a challenge in smaller schools as there are generally not as many opportunities, and can result in smaller schools not seeing the best of what is around them. Bringing 2 schools closer together allows for more best practice sharing, more challenge and career development for teachers and the opportunity to share administrative burden allowing for more time to invest in lessons. There is a proven link between better teaching and pupils attainment.

There are 4 key reasons to consider collaboration Extend Opportunity For Pupils & Staff Financial Sustainability Having a larger critical mass will offer teachers with new development opportunities of working with a wider, broader group of teachers and greater opportunity to build in effective careers. Pupils of the schools will have the opportunity to work with and appreciate being with other children adding to their social skills By looking creatively at sharing knowledge and expertise, pupil achievement can be raised through improved learning and teaching. Under this Government the funding to schools has changed markedly. Most small schools as a consequence are worse off and need to work to a different financial model. Schools are looking for ways to ensure long term viability by among others sharing services, improving procurement and sourcing, flexible use of staff and resources etc. Whatfield is proud of the curriculum and opportunity that we offer the pupils and want to find a way to ensure that we have the best chance of offering this ongoing.

Key Points To Be Aware Of What Changes and What Doesn’t Change? Both schools will be under the leadership of one Head Teacher Both schools will have a Head of School who will be responsible for the school when the Head Teacher is off site Schools will be run independently with their own Governing Bodies There will be occasional joint Governing Body meeting where reviews of the success of the Collaboration will be discussed There will be clear success criteria for the collaboration and an exit plan for if it is found not to work There is no change to school funding – the schools budgets are and will remain separate Teaching will come under the leadership of the Head Teacher who will put in place teaching resource at both schools to deliver effective education This needs to happen – Some schools who cannot recruit a Head Teacher are being forced to collaborate. Whatfield are able to do this now with a school suitable and do not have to run the risk of being “told” to do so.