Big Society and Schools

School-Community links nothing new! The history of school-community engagement dates back to: Henry Morris in the 1930s the expansion of community schools after the Plowden Report in the 1960s and the development of community programmes for specialist schools since 1997 the extended schools initiative from 2000 Developing a strategy for community engagement2

21 st Century Outward Facing School The orthodoxy since Developing a strategy for community engagement

4The com mun ity prog ram me Community aspect of specialism Extended Services Community Cohesion Trusts Federations Co-operative Schools Free Schools Academies

Who do schools partner with as a result of the ideas? Developing a strategy for community engagement5 Multi- Agency Work Higher/ Further Education Charities/ Third Sector/ Voluntary Organisations Statutory Agencies Duel Use Arrangements Employers Parents and Community Members Children’s Trusts Children’s Centres /Primary/secondary/special school networks Adult and Family Learning

Why do schools work with their communities? Create the best conditions for all their students to thrive; drawing on all sectors of the community to make a contribution Build the social capital of their students Build the strategic social capitol of the school to draw in funds/local support Promote lifelong learning within the community Improve parental engagement Community regeneration Public relations/reputation Developing a strategy for community engagement6

What are Schools now? State Funded Bodies Charitable Trusts Social Enterprises Limited Companies Community Hubs Bases for community Forums Network Coordinators CPD Deliverers/Training providers Developing a strategy for community engagement7

Big Society Overview

“I want us to build a society with stronger families and stronger communities”. “…. We know that the best ideas come from the ground up, not the top down. We know that when you give people and communities more power over their lives, more power to come together and work together to make life better – great things happen.”

What is it? “At its core, the big society is an attempt to connect the civic institutions that lie between the individual and the state.... It is born out of recognition that our centralised state has become too big, too bureaucratic and just too distant to support many of those most in need of help, and that it deters people from playing a more active role in public life. In political terms, this means passing power to the lowest level possible radical public service reform, so that schools, social services, planning and even prisons are more responsive to the needs of those using them; and social action, to encourage more people to play a role in society. Not just charities, but neighbourhood groups, workers' co-operatives, social enterprises.” Ian Birrell, David Cameron’s speech writer, author of the Big Society speeches Guardian, 9 Oct 2010

Vanguard areas In July four ‘vanguard areas’ were announced, where civil servants are working with local groups to develop ideas and projects: Liverpool, Eden Valley (Cumbria), Windsor and Maidenhead, Sutton In these areas, local people have proposed: moving a community centre to a site chosen by the community; building a renewable energy generation project; a community buy out of a local pub; providing community broadband access (Eden Valley) participatory budgeting for parks budget; delegating budgets to streets (Windsor) boosting volunteering at museums; creating a social enterprise to produce films and content for digital platforms; developing neighbourhood media and cultural activities in poorer areas (Liverpool). sustainable transport schemes and influencing local public transport; identifying champions for greener living; supporting the creation of a project involving young people that invests in the local community (Sutton) “ The Big Society will be created by community groups, social entrepreneurs and practitioners who will help make it a reality on the ground” (CLG website)

Announcements A Big Society Day (details not announced yet) National citizen service for year olds Training for 500 community organisers Big Society Bank - £500- £800m from unclaimed assets, orginally announced for April 2011

Key players Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society(Cabinet Office) Lord (Nat) Wei, Govt Advisor on Big Society Paul Twivy, CEO, Big Society Network

‘Motherhood and apple pie?’ The language is about empowerment, where citizens will have greater control over their local area and local institutions, that there will be many more opportunities for people to take an active role in bringing about the changes they want to see. What’s not to like? active citizens volunteering Community engagement neighbourhood groups citizens in control