Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative

How we worked together to improve Upton Heath

Paula Moreton – HeadHarry Ziman - Chair

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative

Upton Heath C of E Primary

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative

This is where our partnership started

Ofsted Judgements September 2009

Outstanding 0

Good 3

Satisfactory 5

Inadequate 20

• Special measures• Interim Executive Board• Unhappy parents• Low morale• Inadequate SIAS inspection as a church school• No substantive head or deputy heads

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative

What is an Interim Executive Board?

Similarities to a GB• Responsible for

governance• Still strategic in nature• Ultimately

accountable for the school’s performance

• Partnership between chair and head crucial

Advantages over a GB• Smaller and with

hand-picked people• Faster, more energetic

and flexible• Very clear mandate

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative

Operational v Strategic

GB - Strategic• Contributes process to ensure

rigour and accountability

• Agree what needs to be achieved following advice from HT etc

• Developed governance with support from head

• Empowered head by providing both support and challenge

• Managed stakeholders

Head - Operational• Expertise on education,

teaching, curriculum

• Advises on what needs to be achieved and implementation

• Built school leadership team with support from chair

• Implemented difficult decisions knowing she will be supported

• Normal school communications

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative

The Nature of Challenge and Accountability

Helpful behaviours• Build on each others ideas to

initiate innovative thinking• Ruthlessly objective focus on

impact and outcomes• Transparent when handling

complaints built trust• “How can we do things

differently next time?”• Doing what we said we were

going to do• Reflect and celebrate practice• Adapted the way we work as the

school improved• Learning from each other• Recognition and praise

Things that don’t work• “Why have you ….”• Focus on what people couldn’t

do• Paperwork and meetings that

kept the head in her office• Dwelling on past

shortcomings• Using email instead of talking• Disagreement in front of

others• Fear of things going wrong

inhibiting action (cowardice)• Obsessive concern about what

is strategic and operational

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative

The key is to work together

• We have distinct roles but work as a team• Followed through on the things we said we would do• Rapid decision making

• Joint leadership with a common vision• Very clear organisation with agreed priorities• Challenged ideas, concepts and issues …

• Motivated and inspired each other• Respected the knowledge that each brought

• Values, principles, systems focussed on outcomes for pupils

• Celebrated successes• Not accepting second best … keep working on things until

they are right• Communicate, communicate, communicate

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative

Ofsted were very helpful

• Provided an imperative for improvement

• Validated the work of IEB (governance) and Head

• Frequent Ofsted reports provided evidence of improvement

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative

How are we doing?

Ofsted Judgement

September 2009

April 2011

Outstanding 0 1

Good 3 23

Satisfactory 5 4

Inadequate 20 0

• Level 6 pupils• A source of best practice• PTA Chair of the year finalist• SIAS – Good• Strong governing body• Full intake

Reflective Respectful Collaborative Innovative

The team is still learning together