METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF KNOWSLEY

METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF KNOWSLEY

INNOVATIONS UNIT FIELD TRIAL

LEADERSHIP BEYOND A SINGLE INSTITUTION

STATEMENT OF INTENT

1. Key Contact

Elaine Ayre

Acting Assistant Director

Department of Education & Lifelong Learning

Education Office, Huyton Hey Road

Huyton, Knowsley, Merseyside, L36 5YH

Tel: 0151 443 3233

Email: [email address]

2. Leadership Next Practice Field Trial Idea

Over the last five years Knowsley has earned a reputation for innovative and ground breaking approaches to school improvement based on a developing collaborative approach between the LEA and schools. Recently the collaborative has moved towards a secondary education transformation group as our collective intelligence signals that the current education system, despite our excellent operation within it, is not fit for purpose for the future of our young people. Even if we did not have the BSF funding, it is apparent that we would still need to transform the educational system in Knowsley.

We firmly believe that the continuous improvement is rooted in the clear partnership arrangements and a co-leadership approach. We have recognised the need to move away from traditional hierarchical, constraining and debilitating structures and towards the building of leadership density and models of lateral learning [within and between learning centres]. Leadership is key for the entire community and encompasses the ability to:

Impact learning positively
Think strategically
Motivate and engage stakeholders
Engage technology at every appropriate opportunity
Design and present professional development to address identified needs,
Interact & communicate with community
Demonstrate fiscal responsibility
Continuously evaluate and revise learning and the curriculum in a collaborative manner

In order to achieve the above, we will require a radical re-think around the structure and operation of current governance and leadership arrangements. This will need to reflect appropriately the activities and needs of the learning centres, and the integration of children's services. The new leadership and governance arrangements will provide accountability, ethics and values, financial standards, transparent decision making, clarity of responsibility and robust monitoring. The model will also have clear structures for enabling stakeholder and community views.

3. Purpose of Field Trial

To investigate and trial innovative governance arrangements that respond to the transformational changes occurring within Knowsley together with the proposed changes within the Education White Paper, in particular the implications and potentials of Trust schools.

The field trial will help is to transform our governance arrangements so that it becomes the development of social capital, civil society and high levels of citizen participation where governance in Knowsley becomes the work of empowered, muscular, risk-taking public entrepreneurs.

Outcomes

The development of a fit for purpose governance structure that is fully reflective of and facilitates the engagement and participation of key stakeholders within Knowsley.

A governance structure which generates collective ownership of the system by embracing the neighbourhood regeneration agenda and provides quality assurance of the governance system and the learning centres within it.

4. Key Stakeholders

Children	Families	Community
Current Governors	School Workforce	Local Authority
Health	Social Care	Police
Community College	Catholic Archdiocese	Diocese
Connexions	Youth Service	Area Partnerships
Voluntary/Community Groups	Businesses	Local landlords

5. Half Day Visit

Thursday 16 March 1.00 p.m. onwards

Wednesday 5 April 1.30 p.m. onwards

Thursday 6 April anytime during day

DRAFT #2