Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative How we worked together to improve Upton Heath Paula Moreton – Head Harry Ziman - Chair

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative Upton Heath C of E Primary

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative This is where our partnership started Ofsted JudgementsSeptember 2009 Outstanding0 Good3 Satisfactory5 Inadequate20 Special measures Interim Executive Board Unhappy parents Low morale Inadequate SIAS inspection as a church school No substantive head or deputy heads

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative What is an Interim Executive Board? Similarities to a GB Responsible for governance Still strategic in nature Ultimately accountable for the school’s performance Partnership between chair and head crucial Advantages over a GB Smaller and with hand-picked people Faster, more energetic and flexible Very clear mandate

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative Operational v Strategic GB - Strategic Contributes process to ensure rigour and accountability Agree what needs to be achieved following advice from HT etc Developed governance with support from head Empowered head by providing both support and challenge Managed stakeholders Head - Operational Expertise on education, teaching, curriculum Advises on what needs to be achieved and implementation Built school leadership team with support from chair Implemented difficult decisions knowing she will be supported Normal school communications

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative The Nature of Challenge and Accountability Helpful behaviours Build on each others ideas to initiate innovative thinking Ruthlessly objective focus on impact and outcomes Transparent when handling complaints built trust “How can we do things differently next time?” Doing what we said we were going to do Reflect and celebrate practice Adapted the way we work as the school improved Learning from each other Recognition and praise Things that don’t work “Why have you ….” Focus on what people couldn’t do Paperwork and meetings that kept the head in her office Dwelling on past shortcomings Using instead of talking Disagreement in front of others Fear of things going wrong inhibiting action (cowardice) Obsessive concern about what is strategic and operational

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative The key is to work together We have distinct roles but work as a team Followed through on the things we said we would do Rapid decision making Joint leadership with a common vision Very clear organisation with agreed priorities Challenged ideas, concepts and issues … Motivated and inspired each other Respected the knowledge that each brought Values, principles, systems focussed on outcomes for pupils Celebrated successes Not accepting second best … keep working on things until they are right Communicate, communicate, communicate

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative Ofsted were very helpful Provided an imperative for improvement Validated the work of IEB (governance) and Head Frequent Ofsted reports provided evidence of improvement

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative How are we doing? Ofsted Judgement September 2009 April 2011 Outstanding01 Good323 Satisfactory54 Inadequate200 Level 6 pupils A source of best practice PTA Chair of the year finalist SIAS – Good Strong governing body Full intake

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative The team is still learning together