1. Putting Children First A Story of System Change
One Education’s story is rooted in how one local authority, Manchester committed to improving educational outcomes, trusted in its schools and created a new relationship, with increased delegation, more autonomy, accountability and responsibility for schools. This is in effect the story of how a local authority safely stopped being a provider of services to schools and how standards improved as a result.
My role was simpler. I just followed my heart.
I was one of those governors who came in, helped out and really enjoyed it , all of which led to a premature midlife crisis. I sold my business and became a student in digs again 200 miles from my wife and home while training to become a teacher. So For me being a teache ris a privilege. And pinching myself that I had managed to change career, qualify, and be entrusted with a class of pupils, I began to meet quite a number of people who seemed like they quite fancied going the other way, but had decided instead to hang around the profession that made them so unhappy. Clearly naïve ,this shocked me
There is always a better way if you are willing to go out and find it
I eventually became a headteacher of a school which had been placed in SP Measures. Everyone told me not to, by the way.
Kieran McDermott
CEO One Education

2. 2006 Why Change?
Turbulence is a constant…..but The need for change was mainly from within High levels of underperformance and low attainment in LA schools Chronic struggle to narrow the gap Over 400 children on a waiting list for an EP

3. Confused Accountability
The LA acting as a service provider with money held at the centre to subsidise services The LA was unfocused A culture of dependency in many schools More time was spent apportioning blame to past events rather than planning for future improvement
Over 700 staff in central Education Services
Every regeneration, school improvement fund in western Europe was there in one form or other.
Mutual resentment flourished!!

4. Challenges
Restructure, devolve, delegate and re-culture Separate traded services from other LA functions Understand new roles and relationships Change the local authority’s perception of schools Change schools’ perception of the local authority Improve outcomes………..

5. What it meant for schools
Schools are the leaders of the education system
Schools are autonomous and have complete responsibility for their own improvement
Resources are delegated to schools to enable decisions to be made as close as possible to children (Subsidiarity)

6. What it meant for the Local Authority
The LA acts as a champion of children
The LA has a duty to intervene in schools that are underperforming
Intervention in schools will be focused on governance
We would not trap children in a post code prison
Our schools can access the best out there

7. You’ve got to think about the big things while you’re doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction
Alvin Toffler

8. What did we need to make it work?
Compelling case for change
Clear and shared vision
Leadership & accountability
Communication
Stakeholder commitment
Capacity to change
Careful planning

9. Trading in practice
Demand led – pull not push
Scalability
Full cost recovery
Free market

10. How we behave now
We put children first by listening to those closest to them We work hard to exceed customers’ expectations We’re not consultants – we roll up our sleeves Our people take ownership to solve problems If we make a mistake we put it right quickly, say sorry and learn
We will be the best education company in the world, and we will do it by putting children first.
Working with schools to support the education of children is our privilege

11. The only way to predict the future is to have the power to shape it
The only way to predict the future is to have the power to shape it. Eric Hoffer

12. The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.
Michelangelo

13. Contact details
Kieran McDermott – CEO, One Education Tel: Mobile: