Effective collaboration across the Middle School Family to drive forward standards of teaching

Somerset Association of Middle Schools (SAMS) All a bit cosy?

The Journey so far… The Somerset Challenge

System wide improvement The Somerset Challenge draws on successful models of system improvement The London Challenge, Ontario and Alberta Common elements: – Practitioner led – Collective ownership, shared moral purpose – High levels of collaboration – School to school support

Somerset’s Challenge The rate of improvement in Somerset’s secondary schools has fallen behind that seen nationally At Key Stage 4 Somerset is below national and regional figures for: – the proportion of students gaining 5 or more GCSE A*-C grades including English and mathematics – the percentage of students making the expected progress in English and mathematics – the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) who gained 5 A*-C passes including English and mathematics at GCSE Overall effectiveness Ofsted Inspection judgements show: – a greater proportion at grade 3 or grade 4 than regionally or nationally – a smaller proportion at grade 1 than regionally or nationally

The Somerset Challenge is a practitioner led collaborative partnership of schools with the goal of significantly raising standards of achievement for young people in Somerset. The Somerset Challenge aims to: Achieve better assessment and examination outcomes at 14, 16 and 18 Close the gaps between the lowest and highest levels of achievement by schools and areas in Somerset and between groups of young people while raising the level of the best Increasing the proportion of schools judged to be good or better in Ofsted inspections Secure system wide transformation led by school leaders

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together African proverb

Principles Outcomes driven Practitioner led by school leaders as part of a self-improving system Challenge is the best form of support Collective and shared responsibility for raising the achievement of every student across the county – ‘Our students, not my school’ Strong collaborative and partnership working A universal offer open to all middle and secondary schools Differentiated response according to school need Schools supporting schools A mix of challenge, support and links from within and outside the county Flexibility to respond to needs/circumstances within and across years of the programme

Families of schools Challenge and support Joint practice development School to school approach Practitioner led

Family M

Still part of the big target… Ofsted Judgements Examination Outcomes System Wide Transformation Closing Gaps

Two years and £10K = A Challenge Developing the Plan

Family M “Effectively collaborate across our Middle Schools Family to drive forward standards of teaching.”

Improving the Quality of Teaching Peer Evaluation Programme “Friends stab each other in the front.” Use of Leaders of Learning Make the RM Collaborate vital to the Middle School Family Recruitment S4S Middle

SchoolLast inspectionReview dateLead reviewerOther head Senior staff drawn from DanesfieldSep-1129/04/2015Steve SmithPaulSelwood Jan-1220/05/2015PaulPeterFairlands Feb-1203/06/2015PaulSteve StaffordMaiden Beech May-1217/06/2015PaulEmmaHugh Sexey Hugh Sexey'sJul-1201/07/2015Steve SmithMarkDulverton Jul-1307/10/2015Steve SmithCarlMinehead Mar-1411/11/2015Steve SmithJeanSwanmead Jul-1402/12/2015PaulPeterOakfield Oct-1420/01/2016PaulSteve StaffordDanesfield Peer Evaluation Programme

Documents to be supplied at least 7 days before the review: 1.SEF 2.RAISEONLINE 3.Timetable 4.School Improvement Plan 5.Previous Ofsted report Reviewer will:  Read these documents and check they are coherent.  Review the quality of the website and check for compliance – curriculum, pupil premium details, sports funding details etc.  Plan the review to share with the head on challenge day. Challenge Day Reviewers will:  Tour the school to make judgements about behaviour and curriculum offer.  Review teaching by spending a few minutes in as many classes as possible.  Review teaching by reviewing as many books as possible.  On one occasion, ask a HA, AA, LA child to discuss their progress with their books.  Agree, with the head, three actions which will improve their school – one short term.  Celebrate 5 great things about the school. Peer Evaluation Programme

Improving the Quality of Teaching Peer Evaluation Programme “Friends stab each other in the front.” Use of Leaders of Learning Make the RM Collaborate vital to the Middle School Family Recruitment S4S Middle

The role of Leader of Learning

1. Spend up to three days in other schools Support Train Coach Observe Team teach Curriculum Invite Demonstrate Staff Meeting Share Best Practice Improve Subject Specialist

2. Be the Ambassadors of the RM Collaborate

3. Lead (or co-lead) a session at the S4S Middle INSET Day Friday 12 th February 2016

Improving the Quality of Teaching Peer Evaluation Programme “Friends stab each other in the front.” Use of Leaders of Learning Make the RM Collaborate vital to the Middle School Family Recruitment S4S Middle

Raising Standards of Pupil Attainment Year 6 and Year 8 Allowing the best performing to ignite best practice across all English and Maths leaders working as one Externally marked Year 8 test used across the Family Data sharing

Narrowing the Gaps Auditing: Interventions and Impact Changing the culture Cross Family Appointments Data sharing

 ‘Our Middle Schools’ – all in this together, ‘our’ problem  A genuine sense of investing in ‘best practice’ The best teachers setting the bar + help others get there  Increase in trust  Sharing resources; physical, planning, human  A Middle School Family; 9 Schools, 4000 young people, 400 staff, 1 powerful resource  Impact on standards = ??? The Impact

Effective collaboration across the Middle School Family to drive forward standards of teaching