Specialist Schools

Bidding Support Information Seminars

May 2007

Programme9.00am Registration

9.30am Welcome and Introductions

9.35am Rationale for Specialist Schools Northern Ireland andconnections to E2S and other NI policy development

10.00am Specialist Schools Northern Ireland – Key Processes

10.45am BREAK

11.15am Specialist Schools Northern Ireland – A Principal’perspective

11.45am Application timeline and bidding support arrangements

12.30am LUNCH

Learning OutcomesBy the end of the information seminar, attendees:• Know the rationale and key aims of the specialist school’s initiative

and understand how specialist schools fits into the E2S policy developments;

• Are aware of the key processes in Specialist School’s application– School Plan– Community Plan– Monitoring and Evaluation;

• Have reflected on the experiences of a principal from a Northern Ireland Designated Specialist School;

• Are aware of the timeline for completed applications; and• Know of the bidding support arrangements for schools applying for

Specialist School Status

Rationale for Specialist Schools

Specialist Schools – Key Processes

Bidding Support – Regional Training Unit

Facilitator – John Reid

Key features of Specialist Schools Model

• Raise standards-specialist subject(s) & whole school

• Strengthen/develop learning and teaching strategies

• Extend enrichment including via FE, sponsors, business etc

• Develop specialist identity

• Collaborate with other schools to enhance learning and teaching

• Extended opportunities for wider community involvement, including local business

History

2005/2006 - Pilot Specialist Schools NI

(12 schools designated)

2006/2007 - Cohort 2 Specialist Schools NI

(25 applications)

DE / RTU / E2S division of roles

• DEo Sets criteria and guidelines for biddingo Decides whether sponsorship is eligibleo Assesses bidso Designates specialist schools (Ministerial decision)o Evaluates Specialist Schools (through ETI)o FAQs

9

Division of roles

• RTUo Introduces schools to the programme and the bidding

processo Advises and supports schools preparing bids.o Advises on sponsorship rules and fundraising.o Provides resources to assist schools preparing bidso Liaises with DE (including questions for FAQs)

10

Division of roles

• E2S officerso Advice and support when considering how the

specialist application will fit into the developing collaborative arrangements in a school’s area

• CASSo Specific curriculum guidance and support related to

the bid

The Application Process

DE Guidelines – Designation 2008/2012– Cohort II version can be downloaded from the

DE website:

www.deni.gov.uk

Which schools may apply?

• All schools, currently with pupils in each year group in KS3 & KS4

except those schools

• currently in SSP

• already designated specialist schools

• Dickson Plan schools through a joint application (ie 14-14 schools apply with 14+ schools)

What schools have to do...

• Choose a specialism• Raise £25,000 or more towards a capital project• Draw up a 4-year development plan

– School - specialist subject(s) & whole school– Community

-Partner schools (at least 5 with 2 secondary schools)

-Wider community

• Show how the money will be spent

What schools get…

• Specialist School status from September 2008 until 2012

• £100,000 Capital Grant from DE to add to the £25,000 sponsorship (ie. a total of £125,000 to spend on a “Capital Project”)

• £100 pa per pupil recurrent grant – 50% - school– 50% - community

Preparing your application• Minimum 0-4 months from ‘thinking’ to ‘doing’• Leadership of principal essential• Involvement of SMT/HODs/School staff/Governors vital• Start early in seeking sponsorship• Involve key staff & partners at an early stage• Audits of lead subjects and needs of community partners is crucial• Follow DE guidelines from outset• Access Bidding Support arrangements• Liaise with E2S and (Employing authorities re- proposed use of capital

grant)• Develop a coherent and manageable plan that’s right for YOUR school

What the application is about• Integral to DE educational policy and

developments• Raising standards - developing an ethos• Curriculum – teaching and learning• Whole School• Collaboration and partnership• Sharing practice within schools and other

partners• Working with community, businesses, sponsors

What the application is not about

• A ‘dash for cash’• Focusing on one curriculum area at the expense

of others• “Going it alone”• Building/equipping a science/maths block/drama

studio etc.

The Specialist School’s Process

• General Case• School Plan

– Audit– Objectives, Targets, Implementation

• Community Plan– Audit– Objectives, Targets, Implementation

• Monitoring & evaluation• Financial Plans

General Case (page 5 (& page 7App Guidance))

Schools are specifically required to demonstrate how specialist status would be used to:

– raise attainment in the specialist area and whole school improvement and what will be achieved over the 4 years

– assist the implementation of the revised curriculum– take forward the school’s plans to offer access to the

entitlement framework– enhance career education, information, advice, guidance and

progression– to develop ICT as a learning and teaching tool– develop links with other schools / FE / wider community– Maximum 3 pages

School Plan (pages 8-13 App Guidance)

• Audit– summarise the current position in terms of strengths and areas

for development for each subject covered by your proposed specialism at your school using the following headings:

• attainment; • teaching and learning; • curriculum provision; • uptake of specialist subjects; • resources; • ICT; • quality of management.

– (maximum of two pages per subject).

School Plan (pages 8-13 App Guidance)

• Objectives and Targets– must reflect how (and how far) in the specialist subject you are

planning to: • raise attainment (each year for 4 years); • increase provision / uptake of specialist subjects (Yrs 1&2); • expand enrichment opportunities (Yrs 1 & 2)• Applied/vocational and work related learning should be included

– whole school improvement objective• detailed whole school attainment targets, using your specialism to drive up

attainment• qualitative targets on how L&T will contribute to improving standards in other

departments• set targets for involvement of business/employers

– education for employability objective• pupil based targets• sharing best practice• work-related learning

Community Plan (pages 14-19 App Guidance)

• Audit– summary of consultation with community (max 1 page)– partnership with other schools detailing strengths and areas for

development (max 2 pages). An assessment should be made of how links to partner schools are supported by ICT

– support for identified community groups detailing existing provision and areas for development (max 1 page)

Community Plan (pages 8-13 App Guidance)

• Objectives and Targets– must reflect how (and how far) in the specialist

subject you are planning to address an issue identified in the audit

• set 5 objectives on your work with primary and post primary partners as well as the wider community groups

• optional objective to cover/focus on other issues identified in the audit

• targets for schools/community groups set as learning outcomes

• demonstrate how the use of ICT will add value to relevant objectives in the community plan

Monitoring and Evaluating (app Guidance Pages 20 & 21)

• Outline your monitoring and evaluation strategies. Your summary should relate to the questions outlined in the guidance and show clearly the composition, structure and inter-relationships in your arrangements.

• Max 1 page

Funding & Sponsorship

• Refer to pages 21, 22 & 23 of Application Guidance

Timetable

May & October - Information workshops

May/June/October/November- Bidding Support Workshops

November – February - Writing Workshops

November – February - Consultancy Support

October - Sponsorship Workshop

Specialist Schools Bidding Support Team

• Aims – To respond to school queries through the Bidding Support

arrangements– To track the progress of bids– To help improve bid quality – To liaise with SSAT and YST– To advise on strategies for raising sponsorship and eligibility– To liaise with DE and Employing Authorities– To work in partnership with E2S officers, particularly related to

Specialist Schools

Specialist Schools Bidding Support Arrangements• Response to telephone and e-mail enquiries• Stages of Readiness Indicator Inventory• Information Seminars (May & October)• Bidding Support Workshops (May/Jun/Oct/Nov)• Consultancy clinics for all bidding phases (May-Feb)• Telephone and e-mail feedback on draft bids• Face to face support to schools• Links to Specialist Schools in Northern Ireland• Links to Specialist Schools in England• Establishing partnerships with iNet

Specialist Schools Bidding Support Contact Details

• Project Leader: John Reid Email: jreid@rtuni.org • Project Team: Imelda McDaid/Stewart Polley• Executive Officer: Tina Creaney (tcreaney@rtuni.org) • Clerical Officer: Mat Dalton (mdalton@rtuni.org)

– Email: Telephone: 02890 61812

• Fax: 02890 618123• Web: www.rtuni.org

• Evaluation & Travel Claims

• Questions

• Lunch