Keynote Address: The Role of Regional School Commissioners Sir David Carter, Regional Schools Commissioner (South West)

“Within the next 3-5 years the South West will be the best region to lead, teach and educate a child” Sir David Carter RSC for the South West

What Attracted me to the role of the Regional Schools Commissioner? Sir David Carter RSC for the South West

Core Aims of the RSC Role Monitoring the performance and intervening to secure improvement in underperforming academies Taking decisions on the creation of new academies Ensuring that the sponsor market meets local need by authorising new sponsors and challenging those that exist to perform even better

The Challenges in leading the new System Shift of accountability from Whitehall to the Regions London to Regions Regions to Sub Regions Building the RSC team to be one of the most important educational teams in academy delivery and performance Balance of Autonomy in proportion to Accountability Post 2010-Maximum Autonomy with Limited Accountability- ”Autonomy from the centre was given to the system” Post 2015-Maximum Autonomy with Enhanced Accountability-”Accountability will be provided for the centre by the system”

What does this mean for Academies and Free Schools? A different model of accountability Schools who were above the bar in a centralist model of accountability will be less secure in a regionalised model Best practice identification and transmission will become more closely aligned between the originators of the practice and those seeking to implement it Better “joined up” communication between the key stakeholder groups in the region

What does this mean for Parents and Children? Every family needs access to a “good” or “outstanding” school within reasonable distance of their home If achieved, the choice of school and provider will be richer as quality will be defined by specialism & ethos rather than by results The best schools will play a bigger role in helping weaker schools become great quicker than before Could an indication of sustained outstanding performance involve how well a school supports another? When a school gets into difficulties or is in decline it will take less time to intervene and improve it Prevention or Cure?

The HT Board Monitoring the performance and intervening to secure improvement in underperforming academies Taking decisions on the creation of new academies Ensuring that the sponsor market meets local need by authorising new sponsors and challenging those that exist to perform even better

Priorities for Day Aim 1-Visibility & Communication across the region Aim 2-Understand the profile of the performance of academies and free schools following the 2014 outcomes and plan interventions that are needed Aim 3-Start to approve academy convertors, MAT applications and broker sponsorship arrangements Aim 4-Work with existing sponsors to deliver improvement and support new MAT and sponsors entering the SW Academy arena Aim 5-Building of the “Education South West” vision and strategy

Aim 1-Visibility and Communication Open Academies and Free Schools Academies and Free Schools Principals (Studio and UTC) SW Free Schools Network as there are only 18 of them School Improvement groups who can be commissioned to deliver support Teaching Schools and Maths Hubs and other alliances NLE and LLE Good and Outstanding Schools Existing MAT with capacity to support beyond their trust Current and Future Sponsors and MAT Chairs of MAT Approved Sponsors without a project New sponsors wanting approval New pipeline projects in the SW National Chains with Academies in the SW

Aim 1-Visibility and Communication Other Key Sponsor Groups Leaders of the Diocesan groups University Vice Chancellors Principals of FE Colleges Local Authorities LA Leaders with oversight of educational provision LA Schools so that they are included but respect the RSC remit Beyond the School Networks Regional OFSTED and HMI Members of Parliament Business leaders in the Region Events and Meetings to set the scene Invite Chairs and CEO from SW MAT to meet in October Education South West Seminars across the region sharing practice on improvement themes SW System Leaders seminars with national speakers Breakfast Meetings for MP, Business leaders and Chairs of MATS Free School, Studio School and UTC network Education South West Conferences in March 2015

Aim 2-Monitor and Intervene where Academies are under- performing What will we do? Step 1-Update performance database using 2014 outcomes to update SW Risk Register Step 2-Determine the rating of Academies and MAT to prioritise visits and level of challenge required Step 3-Use EA team & HTB members to visit and review academy performance Step 4-Request action plans and commission support & add capacity in areas where there are no teaching schools Step 5-Agree monitoring schedule for the year and when we request scorecard updates

The SW Academy Performance Challenge Challenge 1-The performance of Pupil Premium students Challenge 2-The “coasting” school that needs to move forward Challenge 3-Improving the percentage of outstanding schools in the region Challenge 4-Rebrokering Academies and finding new sponsors Challenge 5-The performance of our most able students in the region Challenge 6-The performance of academies in seaside locations Challenge 7-The challenge of the SW rural poverty contexts which is different to the urban challenge Challenge 8-Ensuring there are enough groups and individuals able to deliver effective school support in the areas of greatest need

Aim 3-Approve applications to convert, to set up a MAT, determine the best fit for sponsored academies and advise on FS Free Schools Up until March 2015, the RSC role on the application process is to recommend to Ministers, not to decide This covers which projects should be rejected following a paper assessment and then after interview; should a project be cancelled / deferred because EFA can’t find a suitable site? Should we approve capital expenditure on a project? Some of this work is seasonal – there are 3 Free School application rounds every year (but 2015 to be confirmed): the next one starts in October We will have a role to intervene in failing Free Schools

Aim 4-Support new sponsor groups who want to enter the Academy arena to add capacity to the SW Region What we will do Meet with existing sponsors and MAT to understand their context and challenges Partner existing groups with new groups in a mentoring relationship Create sub regional sponsor network groups Work with approved sponsors who do not have a project Make sure pipeline projects are delivered smoothly Work with new groups and trusts who want to gain approval to sponsor new academies and FS Good and Outstanding Schools Teaching School Alliances HE and FE Diocese Business and Industry

Sponsor Improvement and Sponsor Development Get the best from existing sponsors Partner existing groups with new groups in a mentoring relationship Create sub regional sponsor network groups Work with approved sponsors who do not have a project Make sure pipeline projects are delivered smoothly Set the expectation for new sponsors Work with new groups and trusts who want to gain approval to sponsor new academies and FS Good and Outstanding Schools Teaching School Alliances HE and FE Diocese Business and Industry

Aim 5-Build the “Education South West” strategy What we will do Engage the system to support the building of the SW improvement identity Invite Academy Principals to high quality seminars on key performance themes and reinforce their role as system leaders Build a cadre of potential Principals for the region by working with schools delivering NCTL Leadership suite Work with Teaching Schools and HE to ensure there is a pipeline of good teachers entering the profession Work with OFSTED to share the vision and accountability for the performance of academies across the region Work with business groups to build a “Pool” of trained trustees to join MAT Boards

How will we know we have been successful? Children will be performing better in national tests and exams and the SW will be at or above national performance More SW Academies and Free Schools will be OFSTED good and outstanding 25% outstanding and 80% good More academies and free schools will be open providing greater choice and better education for children across the region More MAT will have been created to sponsor and support more schools 57 in Sept 2013 growing to 75 by September 2015 A new regional model of system wide school improvement will be recognised as effective by schools in the South West

@IAA2014_15 #IAAConf

Keynote Address: The Role of Regional School Commissioners Sir David Carter, Regional Schools Commissioner (South West)

“Within the next 3-5 years the South West will be the best region to lead, teach and educate a child” Sir David Carter RSC for the South West

What Attracted me to the role of the Regional Schools Commissioner? Sir David Carter RSC for the South West

Core Aims of the RSC Role Monitoring the performance and intervening to secure improvement in underperforming academies Taking decisions on the creation of new academies Ensuring that the sponsor market meets local need by authorising new sponsors and challenging those that exist to perform even better

The Challenges in leading the new System Shift of accountability from Whitehall to the Regions London to Regions Regions to Sub Regions Building the RSC team to be one of the most important educational teams in academy delivery and performance Balance of Autonomy in proportion to Accountability Post 2010-Maximum Autonomy with Limited Accountability- ”Autonomy from the centre was given to the system” Post 2015-Maximum Autonomy with Enhanced Accountability-”Accountability will be provided for the centre by the system”

What does this mean for Academies and Free Schools? A different model of accountability Schools who were above the bar in a centralist model of accountability will be less secure in a regionalised model Best practice identification and transmission will become more closely aligned between the originators of the practice and those seeking to implement it Better “joined up” communication between the key stakeholder groups in the region

What does this mean for Parents and Children? Every family needs access to a “good” or “outstanding” school within reasonable distance of their home If achieved, the choice of school and provider will be richer as quality will be defined by specialism & ethos rather than by results The best schools will play a bigger role in helping weaker schools become great quicker than before Could an indication of sustained outstanding performance involve how well a school supports another? When a school gets into difficulties or is in decline it will take less time to intervene and improve it Prevention or Cure?

The HT Board Monitoring the performance and intervening to secure improvement in underperforming academies Taking decisions on the creation of new academies Ensuring that the sponsor market meets local need by authorising new sponsors and challenging those that exist to perform even better

Priorities for Day Aim 1-Visibility & Communication across the region Aim 2-Understand the profile of the performance of academies and free schools following the 2014 outcomes and plan interventions that are needed Aim 3-Start to approve academy convertors, MAT applications and broker sponsorship arrangements Aim 4-Work with existing sponsors to deliver improvement and support new MAT and sponsors entering the SW Academy arena Aim 5-Building of the “Education South West” vision and strategy

Aim 1-Visibility and Communication Open Academies and Free Schools Academies and Free Schools Principals (Studio and UTC) SW Free Schools Network as there are only 18 of them School Improvement groups who can be commissioned to deliver support Teaching Schools and Maths Hubs and other alliances NLE and LLE Good and Outstanding Schools Existing MAT with capacity to support beyond their trust Current and Future Sponsors and MAT Chairs of MAT Approved Sponsors without a project New sponsors wanting approval New pipeline projects in the SW National Chains with Academies in the SW

Aim 1-Visibility and Communication Other Key Sponsor Groups Leaders of the Diocesan groups University Vice Chancellors Principals of FE Colleges Local Authorities LA Leaders with oversight of educational provision LA Schools so that they are included but respect the RSC remit Beyond the School Networks Regional OFSTED and HMI Members of Parliament Business leaders in the Region Events and Meetings to set the scene Invite Chairs and CEO from SW MAT to meet in October Education South West Seminars across the region sharing practice on improvement themes SW System Leaders seminars with national speakers Breakfast Meetings for MP, Business leaders and Chairs of MATS Free School, Studio School and UTC network Education South West Conferences in March 2015

Aim 2-Monitor and Intervene where Academies are under- performing What will we do? Step 1-Update performance database using 2014 outcomes to update SW Risk Register Step 2-Determine the rating of Academies and MAT to prioritise visits and level of challenge required Step 3-Use EA team & HTB members to visit and review academy performance Step 4-Request action plans and commission support & add capacity in areas where there are no teaching schools Step 5-Agree monitoring schedule for the year and when we request scorecard updates

The SW Academy Performance Challenge Challenge 1-The performance of Pupil Premium students Challenge 2-The “coasting” school that needs to move forward Challenge 3-Improving the percentage of outstanding schools in the region Challenge 4-Rebrokering Academies and finding new sponsors Challenge 5-The performance of our most able students in the region Challenge 6-The performance of academies in seaside locations Challenge 7-The challenge of the SW rural poverty contexts which is different to the urban challenge Challenge 8-Ensuring there are enough groups and individuals able to deliver effective school support in the areas of greatest need

Aim 3-Approve applications to convert, to set up a MAT, determine the best fit for sponsored academies and advise on FS Free Schools Up until March 2015, the RSC role on the application process is to recommend to Ministers, not to decide This covers which projects should be rejected following a paper assessment and then after interview; should a project be cancelled / deferred because EFA can’t find a suitable site? Should we approve capital expenditure on a project? Some of this work is seasonal – there are 3 Free School application rounds every year (but 2015 to be confirmed): the next one starts in October We will have a role to intervene in failing Free Schools

Aim 4-Support new sponsor groups who want to enter the Academy arena to add capacity to the SW Region What we will do Meet with existing sponsors and MAT to understand their context and challenges Partner existing groups with new groups in a mentoring relationship Create sub regional sponsor network groups Work with approved sponsors who do not have a project Make sure pipeline projects are delivered smoothly Work with new groups and trusts who want to gain approval to sponsor new academies and FS Good and Outstanding Schools Teaching School Alliances HE and FE Diocese Business and Industry

Sponsor Improvement and Sponsor Development Get the best from existing sponsors Partner existing groups with new groups in a mentoring relationship Create sub regional sponsor network groups Work with approved sponsors who do not have a project Make sure pipeline projects are delivered smoothly Set the expectation for new sponsors Work with new groups and trusts who want to gain approval to sponsor new academies and FS Good and Outstanding Schools Teaching School Alliances HE and FE Diocese Business and Industry

Aim 5-Build the “Education South West” strategy What we will do Engage the system to support the building of the SW improvement identity Invite Academy Principals to high quality seminars on key performance themes and reinforce their role as system leaders Build a cadre of potential Principals for the region by working with schools delivering NCTL Leadership suite Work with Teaching Schools and HE to ensure there is a pipeline of good teachers entering the profession Work with OFSTED to share the vision and accountability for the performance of academies across the region Work with business groups to build a “Pool” of trained trustees to join MAT Boards

How will we know we have been successful? Children will be performing better in national tests and exams and the SW will be at or above national performance More SW Academies and Free Schools will be OFSTED good and outstanding 25% outstanding and 80% good More academies and free schools will be open providing greater choice and better education for children across the region More MAT will have been created to sponsor and support more schools 57 in Sept 2013 growing to 75 by September 2015 A new regional model of system wide school improvement will be recognised as effective by schools in the South West

@IAA2014_15 #IAAConf

Keynote Address: The Role of Regional School Commissioners Sir David Carter, Regional Schools Commissioner (South West)

“Within the next 3-5 years the South West will be the best region to lead, teach and educate a child” Sir David Carter RSC for the South West

What Attracted me to the role of the Regional Schools Commissioner? Sir David Carter RSC for the South West

Core Aims of the RSC Role Monitoring the performance and intervening to secure improvement in underperforming academies Taking decisions on the creation of new academies Ensuring that the sponsor market meets local need by authorising new sponsors and challenging those that exist to perform even better

The Challenges in leading the new System Shift of accountability from Whitehall to the Regions – London to Regions – Regions to Sub Regions – Building the RSC team to be one of the most important educational teams in academy delivery and performance Balance of Autonomy in proportion to Accountability – Post 2010-Maximum Autonomy with Limited Accountability-”Autonomy from the centre was given to the system” – Post 2015-Maximum Autonomy with Enhanced Accountability-”Accountability will be provided for the centre by the system”

What does this mean for Academies and Free Schools? A different model of accountability Schools who were above the bar in a centralist model of accountability will be less secure in a regionalised model Best practice identification and transmission will become more closely aligned between the originators of the practice and those seeking to implement it Better “joined up” communication between the key stakeholder groups in the region

What does this mean for Parents and Children? Every family needs access to a “good” or “outstanding” school within reasonable distance of their home If achieved, the choice of school and provider will be richer as quality will be defined by specialism & ethos rather than by results The best schools will play a bigger role in helping weaker schools become great quicker than before – Could an indication of sustained outstanding performance involve how well a school supports another? When a school gets into difficulties or is in decline it will take less time to intervene and improve it – Prevention or Cure?

The HT Board Monitoring the performance and intervening to secure improvement in underperforming academies Taking decisions on the creation of new academies Ensuring that the sponsor market meets local need by authorising new sponsors and challenging those that exist to perform even better

Priorities for Day Aim 1-Visibility & Communication across the region Aim 2-Understand the profile of the performance of academies and free schools following the 2014 outcomes and plan interventions that are needed Aim 3-Start to approve academy convertors, MAT applications and broker sponsorship arrangements Aim 4-Work with existing sponsors to deliver improvement and support new MAT and sponsors entering the SW Academy arena Aim 5-Building of the “Education South West” vision and strategy

Aim 1-Visibility and Communication Open Academies and Free Schools – Academies and Free Schools Principals (Studio and UTC) – SW Free Schools Network as there are only 18 of them School Improvement groups who can be commissioned to deliver support – Teaching Schools and Maths Hubs and other alliances – NLE and LLE – Good and Outstanding Schools – Existing MAT with capacity to support beyond their trust Current and Future Sponsors and MAT – Chairs of MAT – Approved Sponsors without a project – New sponsors wanting approval – New pipeline projects in the SW – National Chains with Academies in the SW

Aim 1-Visibility and Communication Other Key Sponsor Groups – Leaders of the Diocesan groups – University Vice Chancellors – Principals of FE Colleges Local Authorities – LA Leaders with oversight of educational provision – LA Schools so that they are included but respect the RSC remit Beyond the School Networks – Regional OFSTED and HMI – Members of Parliament – Business leaders in the Region Events and Meetings to set the scene – Invite Chairs and CEO from SW MAT to meet in October – Education South West Seminars across the region sharing practice on improvement themes – SW System Leaders seminars with national speakers – Breakfast Meetings for MP, Business leaders and Chairs of MATS – Free School, Studio School and UTC network – Education South West Conferences in March 2015

Aim 2-Monitor and Intervene where Academies are under- performing What will we do? – Step 1-Update performance database using 2014 outcomes to update SW Risk Register – Step 2-Determine the rating of Academies and MAT to prioritise visits and level of challenge required – Step 3-Use EA team & HTB members to visit and review academy performance – Step 4-Request action plans and commission support & add capacity in areas where there are no teaching schools – Step 5-Agree monitoring schedule for the year and when we request scorecard updates

The SW Academy Performance Challenge Challenge 1-The performance of Pupil Premium students Challenge 2-The “coasting” school that needs to move forward Challenge 3-Improving the percentage of outstanding schools in the region Challenge 4-Rebrokering Academies and finding new sponsors Challenge 5-The performance of our most able students in the region Challenge 6-The performance of academies in seaside locations Challenge 7-The challenge of the SW rural poverty contexts which is different to the urban challenge Challenge 8-Ensuring there are enough groups and individuals able to deliver effective school support in the areas of greatest need

Aim 3-Approve applications to convert, to set up a MAT, determine the best fit for sponsored academies and advise on FS Free Schools – Up until March 2015, the RSC role on the application process is to recommend to Ministers, not to decide This covers – which projects should be rejected following a paper assessment and then after interview; should a project be cancelled / deferred because EFA can’t find a suitable site? Should we approve capital expenditure on a project? Some of this work is seasonal – there are 3 Free School application rounds every year (but 2015 to be confirmed): the next one starts in October We will have a role to intervene in failing Free Schools

Aim 4-Support new sponsor groups who want to enter the Academy arena to add capacity to the SW Region What we will do – Meet with existing sponsors and MAT to understand their context and challenges Partner existing groups with new groups in a mentoring relationship Create sub regional sponsor network groups – Work with approved sponsors who do not have a project – Make sure pipeline projects are delivered smoothly Work with new groups and trusts who want to gain approval to sponsor new academies and FS – Good and Outstanding Schools – Teaching School Alliances – HE and FE – Diocese – Business and Industry

Sponsor Improvement and Sponsor Development Get the best from existing sponsors – Partner existing groups with new groups in a mentoring relationship – Create sub regional sponsor network groups – Work with approved sponsors who do not have a project – Make sure pipeline projects are delivered smoothly Set the expectation for new sponsors Work with new groups and trusts who want to gain approval to sponsor new academies and FS – Good and Outstanding Schools – Teaching School Alliances – HE and FE – Diocese – Business and Industry

Aim 5-Build the “Education South West” strategy What we will do – Engage the system to support the building of the SW improvement identity – Invite Academy Principals to high quality seminars on key performance themes and reinforce their role as system leaders – Build a cadre of potential Principals for the region by working with schools delivering NCTL Leadership suite – Work with Teaching Schools and HE to ensure there is a pipeline of good teachers entering the profession – Work with OFSTED to share the vision and accountability for the performance of academies across the region – Work with business groups to build a “Pool” of trained trustees to join MAT Boards

How will we know we have been successful? Children will be performing better in national tests and exams and the SW will be at or above national performance More SW Academies and Free Schools will be OFSTED good and outstanding – 25% outstanding and 80% good More academies and free schools will be open providing greater choice and better education for children across the region More MAT will have been created to sponsor and support more schools – 57 in Sept 2013 growing to 75 by September 2015 A new regional model of system wide school improvement will be recognised as effective by schools in the South West

@IAA2014_15 #IAAConf