Building Schools For the Future Dr Jon Spence
Building Schools for the Future
Developing Partnerships for change Dr Jon Spence
Aim of the session
• To Identify how interested parties can influence change • To provide an example where partnership has resulted in effective change • To suggest how partnerships can be developed between Schools, Universities, Businesses and Local Authorities.
The role of the University in School!
Working Together
• In order to bring about change we must work together to form a ‘community of practice’ • The aim of a community of practice is to create, expand and exchange knowledge and develop individual capabilities. • Within the community we must have passion and commitment • The community will last as long as the topic remains interesting and learning continues.
To Consider
• Who Do you work with? – Is it a community of practice? • Who do you want to work with? • Why don’t you?
Managing Change
• In order to bring about change we must: – Identify what needs changing – Bring together interested parties – Plan for change – Work together to ensure success – Remain focused on the reason for change
Careful planning will lead to success
Case Study Primary School Physical Education Provision
The Roehampton Community: The Issue • • • • •
Inappropriate/insufficient Initial Teacher Training Poorly prepared teachers Inappropriate curriculum Poor facilities Teachers lacking confidence and competence to deliver a high quality PE experience for all • School Sport Partnerships keen to have an impact and LA’s with specific targets
A Solution!
• Creation of a community of practice involving 13 SSP’s, 8 Local Authorities (and latterly a business) • All involved believed passionately that they could make a difference to the teaching and learning in Physical Education – The University had the knowledge and expertise – The SSP’s had the infrastructure and expertise – The LA had the ‘power’ and contacts.
Stage 1
• Improving teachers confidence and competence to teach PE – Teachers had expertise in children’s learning – SSP had expertise in the subject – University had the ability to influence • Working together the SSP’s and the University developed a programme of support for teachers to give them greater confidence and competence to provide a high quality learning experience
Teacher Support
• Local needs identified and catered for: – Courses (evolving and progressive) – Modelling – Discussion – Materials • All involved were committed to bringing about a change in philosophy and to developing a greater understanding of Physical Education
Stage 2
• As Teachers grew in confidence and competence, the community needed to develop to meet additional demands • Facilities/the learning environment became a barrier to further change • A business with a similar philosophy and appropriate ethos joined the community • Equipment, facilities and training were developed to aid the developmental approach to the teaching of the subject
Facility/equipment development
• The community, in particular the University, have contributed to the development of equipment and training provided by the company • Teachers will be trained at the university utilising specifically designed and developed facilities/ equipment • Staff from all partners will be trained by the company to enable them to train others in the community
The problems of business involvement • Working with a business brings different challenges – Careful selection of partners is essential • The need for profit does not always meet the educational philosophy and targets of the community • Ensuring the company have similar goals to the community is essential • All partners will need to feel the benefits if the community is to continue to operate successfully
Conclusions
• Passion, commitment and drive are the keys to success • Working together is better than working alone • Pupils benefit from the range of partners involved • All member of the community will benefit from the strengths of the others • Cliché Time! – "The whole is greater than the sum of the parts"
• Find like minded partners who want what you want and are determined to get there • One person can be the catalyst for change but working together will see the greatest results.
Dr Jon Spence Roehampton University Physical Education Subject Leader/enterprise manager J.spence@roehampton.ac.uk