Contact: Ian Beacham, 01962 846367, e-mail: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 This report seeks the support of the Executive Member for Education for a unique agreement between Hampshire County Council (HCC) and the Specialist Schools' and Academies Trust (SSAT) in support of school improvement in Hampshire. The agreement is attached, signed by David Crossley the Director of Achievement Networks for the SSAT.

2 Reason

2.1 This decision supports aim 1 (maximising life opportunities) and aim 5 (improving services) of the Corporate Strategy by the development of collaborative working to support the raising of standards and pupil attainment and by providing a more effective service to schools and the wider community.

2.2 This decision also supports the outcomes of the Children Act. Enjoyment and achievment is promoted by increasing the range of opportunities schools are able to offer, providing coherence in the support schools receive and facilitating the sharing of excellent practice between schools. Achieving economic wellbeing is encouraged by working with the SSAT and secondary schools to deliver specialist courses at KS4 in specialist facilities with the involvement of local business and community partners. Further, it supports the stretching of national educational standards at both primary and secondary phase

3 Background

3.1 In May of this year, the County Council agreed to affiliate to the Specialist Schools' and Academies Trust helping it to coordinate the support of secondary schools and the work of networks that exist between them. The County Council believes that specialist schools have a role to play in the development and promotion of good practice. Following affiliation, further work has lead to the development of a compact in the form of a working partnership agreement (appendix 1) between the SSAT and HCC.

3.2 Both organisations recognise the benefits that partnership working will bring for schools in Hampshire and for the students who attend them. This agreement between a county council and the SSAT represents an innovative approach to supporting school improvement and it is the first of its kind in the country The agreement sets out eight main areas where a coherent partnership approach would be of benefit to schools and to both two organisations . These areas are:

· the identification and dissemination of excellent/innovative practice;

· the role of inspirational leaders

· schools requiring support

· subject specific improvement

· linking with wider community

· self-evaluation and strategic planning

· working with governors

· links with other organisations.

4 Legal implications

4.1 None.

5 Financial implications

6.1 None.

6 Personnel implications

6.1 None.

7 Impact assessment

7.1 Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report and no adverse impact has been identified. The intention of the agreement with the SSAT is to facilitate the sharing of good practice so that all schools and all students benefit from the development of specialist schools in Hampshire.

8 Crime prevention issues

8.1 Not applicable.

9 Views of the Local County Councillor

10.1 Not applicable.

Recommendations

1 That the Executive Member for Education approves and signs on behalf of the County Council, the partnership agreement with the Specialist Schools' and Academies Trust.

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.

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A partnership agreement between the Specialist Schools' Trust and Hampshire County Council

1. The benefits of partnership

Hampshire County Council (HCC) and the Specialist Schools and Acaemies Trust (SSAT) recognise the benefits that partnership working will bring for schools in Hampshire and for the students who attend them. Both organisations are committed to the principles of school improvement and seek to support school leaders in rigorous self-evaluation and the pursuit of excellent and innovative practice to secure the best educational experience for students. In response to this, the following areas have been identified where a coherent partnership approach from HCC and the SSAT would be of benefit to schools and to the two organisations which support them.

(a) The identification and dissemination of excellent/innovative practice

The SSAT has an national reputation for promoting innovation. Through the deployment of Attached Inspectors and a network of subject inspectors, HCC as the local authority (LA) has access to every secondary school. The introduction of the New Relationship with Schools (NRwS) means that each school will now have at least five days of close work with a School Improvement Partner (SIP). This knowledge alongside existing information, will help to identify which Hampshire schools are best placed to act as "credible missionaries" to influence the practice of less well performing schools or simply to promote an informed exchange of practice. The established networks for the sharing of practice and encouragement of innovation which the SSAT and HCC separately operate should therefore be aligned to provide an exciting vehicle for schools to learn from each other. Partnership in this field would lead to a wider vision and shared, professional debate about effective practice in Hampshire schools and nationally.

(b) The role of inspirational leaders

The SSAT's work with "Mentor Heads" has much in common with national work involving "Consultant Leaders", further a number of Hampshire head teachers will also become SIPs in order to support improvement in other schools. Hampshire Teaching and Leadership College (HTLC) would also benefit from work with the SSAT's Raising Achievement programme. The way in which outstanding school leaders are supported and developed as well as how their skills are employed in the improvement of other schools is an area where joined-up working would lead to a clearer focus and less duplication in training, networking and deployment.

(c) Schools requiring support

A small number of Hampshire schools, which are also specialist schools, are identified each year as requiring additional support. Additional resource may be put into these schools both in terms of funding and adviser time. Some of these schools are also in receipt of additional support from the SSAT, and often with a similar focus. Exchange of information would be helpful both in the targeting of resource and in the realistic measuring of improvement in relation to input. It will also improve the efficiency of support to such schools.

(d) Subject specific improvement

Subject networks already exist in Hampshire schools. The organisation of Hampshire-wide conferences for specialist curriculum areas to engage both specialist and non-specialist schools would be a productive development. The conferences would be jointly organised and facilitated using subject expertise from within the SSAT and HCC and would be hosted by a Hampshire school with the subject specialism under examination. The focus of the annual conferences will be the sharing of excellent and innovative practice in an identified subject between all Hampshire secondary schools, thus providing a wider and more diverse base for dissemination.

(e) Linking with the wider community

The new Children's Services Authority has heightened interest in the way schools engage with their communities and with the development of extended services to meet school improvement and Every Child Matters outcomes. The Community Plan which forms part of the specialist application is relevant to this agenda and both HCC and the SSAT would benefit from supporting schools in linking the plan to their community and extended services and to the audit of community needs. Further in encouraging and engaging with business and employers, in the formation of more effective partnerships.

(f) Self-evaluation and strategic planning

The quality of self-evaluation is fundamental to school improvement and school effectiveness should be an important consideration in specialist designation and re-designation. The LA and the SSAT are natural partners in ensuring that this develops in a rigorous and cohesive manner as the LA moves closer to the point when all secondary schools in Hampshire have specialist status.

(g) Working with governors

Effective governance is key to sustainable school improvement. The SSAT has recognised this in ensuring the central role of governors in the operation of specialist schools. HCC incorporates a governor support service and regards the development of governors as an important LA function.

(h) Links with other organisations

HCC has an excellent relationship with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight LSC and the two organisations have recently released the first jointly written 14-19 strategy to be published. As a Children's Services Authority, HCC will have a number of statutory partners involved in the delivery of both universal and targeted services to children from birth to 19. HCC regards the SSAT as a partner in the field of school improvement and would wish to develop this further in pursuit of a truly joined-up service for children.

2. Proposed actions

The following suggested actions on behalf of HCC and the SSAT would serve to promote joint working in the areas outlined above:

(a) A mechanism for regular exchange of information between the two organisations to be established. This should include a half termly meeting between the SSAT Regional Co-ordinator and the relevant HCC officer. A mutual directory of relevant contacts, including subject specialists, to be shared and maintained.

(b) A senior level meeting to review progress to take place in the summer of 2006, leading to a strategic review of the value and future direction of the partnership. This will serve to establish whether this pilot partnership has the potential for roll-out in other local authorities.

(c) A timetable for establishing joint subject specific conferences in Hampshire to be drawn up. HCC senior officers/inspector to co-ordinate contacts between HCC and SSAT subject personnel and work with the Regional Co-ordinator to facilitate the conferences.

(d) To ensure that the work of any headteacher involved with SSAT programmes links appropriately with SIP activities led by the LA and consultant leader activities led by the NCLS

(e) Agreement to be sought on appropriate mechanisms for identifying schools best placed to disseminate practice and a concerted approach to working with the DfES and OfSTED on recommendations for re-designation or other status such as that of Training School.

(f) HCC Extended Schools Officer, in conjunction with the SSAT link officer to meet to consider how, schools which are funded to work with their partner primary schools to deliver extended services, are also fulfilling the obligations of their community plans and how these objectives may be mutually supportive. Appropriate measures of impact of community/extended activities to be agreed.

3. Agreement

We the undersigned agree with the principles and practice as set out in this partnership agreement, and further agree to fulfil our part in their delivery.

Signed: ....................................

Hampshire County Council Specialist Schools' Trust

Date: 15 December 2005 7 November 2005