Summary - This case study looks at the challenges, achievements and solutions of a 6 school federation, unusual in that it also includes 2 special schools. 

Introduction: The Weston Education Partnership consists of 6 schools, 4 secondaries and 2 special schools. It operates through a Governance committee drawn from headteachers and governor representatives from each school. This body, known as the Strategic Management Board has delegated powers under the Education Act 2002.             

Focal areas: Professional development for teachers; creating subject expertise; broadening 14-19 provision; enrichment experiences for pupils; improving the achievement of specific pupil groups; effective ICT/learning technologies; community/social cohesion; core value i.e. shared services and contracts, ITT, recruitment, quality and self evaluation
  
Impact on standards of teaching and learning: Enhanced professional skills underpinned by a robust quality framework will result in improved learning opportunities and outcomes.

Pupil groups to benefit most:

• Groups at risk of underachievement/disaffection.
• Special school students have greater access to mainstream activities.

Impact on teachers’ professional development and support:

• Joint INSET days planned and delivered.
• Twilight seminars.
• Opportunities for joint meetings.
• Sharing of practice through Portal and other networking opportunities.
• Cross-school support for induction process.
• Cross-school leadership opportunities.
• Integrated approach to ITT & CPD.
• Innovation research opportunities.
• Peer review.

Enhancement of links between the schools and the community:

• Student Parliament.
• Joint governance.
• Weston NHS partnership through Weston Hospital.
• Citizenship Award.
• Twilight GCSE and Enrichment Programme.
• Local radio partnership.

Barriers / challenges:

• Initial delay in grant from DfES.
• Ofsted inspections.
• Changes of headteacher/new school build.
• Communication difficulties.
• Leadership capacity.
• Lack of funds to develop ICT infrastructure.

How the barriers/challenges were overcome:    

• Cross school support before, during and after OFSTED inspection;
• Involvement in recruitment of new headtachers and ongoing induction support for new headteachers.
• Communication strategy established, agreed and monitored;
• Infrastructure that promotes engagement in Federation activity. 

Contract or agreement with LA to deliver services on their behalf: Excellence Cluster, Behaviour Improvement Programme, Aim Higher and LIG delivered on behalf of the LEA.

Emerging innovative practice:

• Value of external support\consultancy for strategic planning and evaluation
• Robust infrastructure providing cross-school leadership opportunities at all levels including students.
• Integration of initiatives into a single plan so there is coherence.
• Real opportunites for student engagement in policy and planning through the Student Parliament.
• Enhanced professional support for supply teachers through “Survival Kits” and training opportunties.
• Federation Quality Framework for Learning and Teaching and Initial Teacher Training.
• Federated delivery of Initial Teacher Training Programmes that includes Special School and FE experience.
• Citizenship Awards that challenge negative perceptions of young people in the town.
• Use of Graduate Researcher to undertake research into key issues facing the Federaion.
• Federation E-Learning Director post.
• Federation Enrichment offer to further engage young people in learning.
• Well established cross Federation Peer Review Model.

For more information about this case study, please contact Julaine Baldan  - Director, either by emailing Julaine.baldan@n-somerset.gov.uk or calling 01934 417603.