Case study: Transform secondary education

Assignment

Interim Management in three second tier posts in the authority to develop a whole city approach to transforming secondary education and addressing the serious issues in secondary provision identified by OFSTED in a recent inspection report of the LEA.

Project details

To work alongside existing senior managers to develop the concept of the learning revolution and the underlying strategy for transformation by initiating a series of strategies which included:

Demographic mapping and forecasting

Analysis of the potential for schools to improve

The development of a vision for secondary and post-16 education across the city

The closure of 6 secondary schools

The building of 4 new schools (one an Academy)

Support in developing and implementing the “No Child left Behind” strategy focusing on increased opportunities for pupil inclusion across the city

The reorganisation of property services

The reorganisation of the management structure of Education in the authority

Co-ordination of strategic planning and performance monitoring

The development of closer links between education and regeneration schemes

The development of a partnership between education and the business sector

Outcomes

The main outcomes developed during the course of the contract included the re-inspection judgement by OFSTED in January 2005 that authority is now a “highly satisfactory” LEA with good capacity for further improvement. Other specific improvements included:

Since 2001 the number of young people receiving 5A*-C at GCSE in the authority has improved by 10% compared with 7.1% nationally

Fewer young people are leaving school without a qualification, and the performance of children from traditionally disadvantaged ethnic minorities and children in public care are improving. The authority is also consistently improving its value added score

There are now no schools on special measures

There have been year on year improvements in attendance in both primary and secondary schools

A series of initiatives has increased attendance to the equivalent of 98,000 extra school days in the last two years

Permanent exclusions have fallen by 28% in the last year and are still reducing with fixed exclusions also falling year on year

Over £430 million secured for refurbishment and new build projects, bringing some of the most modern, inspiring, learning environments ever built

Over 230 schools are involved in the Healthy Schools Standard.

54 schools have achieved the Stephen Lawrence Education Standard

47 schools have achieved the Inclusion Chartermark

Mentoring has received national recognition and provides for over 4000 young people to be mentored each year

A 55% reduction in the number of statement of special educational needs

Personnel, Communications, Governor Support, Estates Management, Admissions and Transport, and now the Planning Team have all achieved Chartermark

Successfully re-assessed for Investors in People in 2005 and also achieved the Leadership and Management module

Over 400 colleagues have completed the Investment in Excellence programme

Achieved the Local Government Equality standard at level 1, 2 and 3

Achieved the EMAS standard for environmental management

All agreed targets within the project plan have been achieved

The impact of the project has enabled the client to completely address the issues raised by the OFSTED inspection, significantly realign existing provision, deliver key aspects of education services in an innovative and different way than before way and foster open and positive relationships with schools and the wider community.