Contact: John Clarke, Deputy Director of Children's Services, Tel 01962 846459,
e-mail [email protected] or

Alan Rawlings, Senior inspector/Adviser (Secondary), Tel 01962 846917
e-mail [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 This report summarises organisational changes to the work of the Children's Services Department with mainstream secondary schools from 1 September 2005. This is as a result of implementation of the New Relationship with Schools programme. The report supports Aim 1 of the Corporate Strategy (maximising life opportunities). The achievement of pupils and their life opportunities are closely linked to the effectiveness of the school they attend. The purpose of this report is to explain how the role of the school improvement partner will enhance the existing 'challenge and support' role of the County Council with schools.

2 Background

2.1 In 2004/05 Hampshire County Council fulfilled its role to both challenge and support secondary schools through a team of attached inspectors (AIs) who were employees of the County Council. Visits to schools were in accordance with the Code of Practice for LEA/School Relations, in that effective and highly effective schools received one monitoring visit annually. Other schools had more frequent contact. In those schools needing most improvement the support programme was led locally by one of the School Improvement Managers.

2.2 Whilst it is generally the case that schools are supported through the council's own staff, opportunities are also taken to draw on school-based staff when this is judged to be more appropriate and likely to be more effective. In 2002, and supported by a grant from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the County Council piloted a programme whereby a serving headteacher worked alongside a colleague. The evaluation of this project demonstrated the benefits to both parties in the pairing of headteachers to focus on common issues, or simply to undertake joint evaluations. This work informed, in part, the changes that come into force this September.

3 New arrangements

3.1 Hampshire is one of 27 Local Authorities (LAs) where School Improvement Partners (SIPs) will be operational in secondary schools from September 2005. The idea of the SIP programme is to enhance the school improvement service by strengthening the field force, through the inclusion of headteachers in what is called the AI role in Hampshire. SIPs are drawn from existing school improvement staff and serving or former headteachers. All SIPs have been accredited through a process that involves a lengthy on-line assessment task, followed by a two-day training and assessment programme. This programme is run by the National College for School Leadership. A register of accredited SIPs has been produced by Capita, the National Strategies contractor, and it is from this list that the team of Hampshire SIPs has been drawn.

3.2 The process of selection was undertaken in partnership with secondary headteachers, who were represented at the discussions in July when the team was formed. In total, there will be 20 SIPs: twice as many people as in the former AI team. Twelve SIPs are existing or former headteachers who will be attached to 27 schools. The remaining 44 schools will have a member of the Children's Services Department (CSD) as their SIP.

3.3 These new arrangements will include a new relationship between the National Strategies Contractor, Capita, and the CSD. The selection of SIPs was undertaken by the CSD, which is also responsible for the operational aspects of the role and to whom the SIPs will be accountable. Capita is responsible for the professional development and training of SIPs, although the CSD will provide local induction and networking opportunities. It is important to emphasise that the SIPs work for the County Council, and Capita has a supporting role.

3.4 AIs did not work alone; the same will be true of SIPs. They will be part of the wider network of support for schools and will serve an important brokering role in respect of other advice and support. Each school will see their SIP at least once a term. This is more than is the case for many schools currently, although for those schools managed locally there is unlikely to be much difference from previously. Strategic School Improvement Managers will expect the `challenge and support' role of the Children's Services Department to continue to be fulfilled through this new SIP team.

3.5 One aspect of the role of the SIP that was not part of the role of the AI is that of External Adviser (EA) to the governing body on the performance management of the headteacher. This service was provided through Cambridge Education Limited (CEL) who also employed the advisers. The Government has amended the Regulations that require governors to take external advice on the headteacher's performance management so that this requirement no longer applies. This change, alongside the revised Government `light touch' monitoring of the performance management of headteachers, has the potential for a more efficient overall process.

4 Legal implications

4.1 None.

5 Personnel implications

5.1 None.

6 Financial implications for the County Council

6.1 A DfES grant of £142,000 (in a full year) will be payable up to and including
2007/08 to offset the additional cost to the CSD of this programme. The reimbursement of school budgets for the services of headteachers has been set at a level so that this is cost neutral against existing expenditure. Without this grant, there would have been a deficit because of the County Council's adherence to the Code of Practice for LEA/School Relations.

6.2 No commitment has yet been given by the DfES to any financial support for the programme when it is extended to all primary schools in 2006/07. Current estimates suggest that, without any grant, there will be a shortfall in funding of approximately £0.5 million.

7 Impact assessment

7.1 None.

8 Crime prevention issues

8.1 None.

9 Views of the Local County Councillor

9.1 Not sought in the drafting of this report.

Recommendations

1 That the report is noted.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act

None