#SNEsummit15

Ian Bauckham

KEYNOTE

ASCL Past President

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Blueprint for a self-improving system:Challenges and opportunities

Ian BauckhamASCL Past President

HTB MemberNLE

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“In an era of diminishing centralisation, accelerating the rate and depth of school improvement and reducing the number of underperforming schools requires a new vision.”

David Hargreaves, Creating a self-improving system (2010)

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Blueprint elements

1. Teacher professionalism2. Curriculum, assessment and

qualifications3. Funding and governance4. Accountability5. Scrutiny, oversight and intervention6. Strategic planning

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Some of the words used to describe the blueprint

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Challenge 1: Funding constraints

• Real-terms cuts to school spending per head of c7% between 2015/16 and 2019/20

• This rises to 9% when increases in National Insurance and pension contributions are factored in (Source IFS BN 168)

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Challenge 2: Teacher supply

• January 2015 postgraduate teacher training through UCAS down 18% in comparison with the same point in 2014

• 2016 – 2022, decline in the population of 21 year olds

• More graduate level job vacancies than since 2008 – a ‘buyers’ market’ from the point of view of graduate job seekers.

• Rising numbers of 11 year olds through to 2022

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Challenge 3: Curriculum and assessment reform• New Y6 tests in 2016

• Resit Year 6 tests in Year 7

• New GCSEs in maths and English from September 2015 and in other subjects from September 2016

• Pupils required to take EBacc subjects – consultation due

• New GCSE grading structure from 2017 onwards

• New AS and A level syllabuses taught, staggered, from September 2015 onwards

• National Reference Tests

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Challenge 4: Accountability

• Revised Ofsted framework in September 2015; but current new framework not likely to be the last or most radical reform of Ofsted in next 5 years

• Progress 8 reporting of GCSE results from 2016

• Education and Adoption Bill – extension of RSC powers over maintained schools deemed ‘coasting’

• Growth of multi academy trusts and building of sponsorship capacity

• 500 new free schools to help address priority to provide a ‘good school place for all’

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Challenge 5: leadership and succession

• Around 10,000 heads, deputies and assistant heads are aged 55 and over

• Filling primary headship vacancies already an acute challenge in many areas (c40% of England’s primary schools are smaller than 1FE)

• Coastal and other parts of the country with significant pipeline challenges

• Leadership development?

• The challenges of addressing this ‘at scale’

Unless we have enough good quality leaders and teachers, the system cannot improve…

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Denial …

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Refusal or anger …

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Turn challenges into opportunities …

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The challenge for us: redistribute the future

William Ford Gibson

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Opportunity 1: Visioning the future in a different funding landscape

• First principles

• Catalyst for new thinking

• Resist the temptation only to ‘trim’

Resources• Leadership of strategic school improvement planning and self assessment

(forthcoming)• Strategic finance – design principles (forthcoming)

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Opportunity 2: Groups of schools

•Future of local authorities

•Federations and trusts

•Co-shape the emerging landscape

Resources•Leadership of strategic school improvement planning and self assessment (forthcoming) •Leading and governing groups of schools•Forming and joining groups of schools – staying in control of your school’s destiny

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Opportunity 3: Take control of teacher supply and quality

•Focus on pedagogy•Become better informed•Take control of teacher training

Resources•ASCL’s Leadership of Professional Development and Learning•Developing Great Teaching, Teacher Development Trust, June 2015,•What makes great teaching: a review of the underpinning research, Sutton Trust

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Opportunity 4: Recast leadership of learning

• Keep the main thing the main thing!• What is good teaching? And assessment?• Relentlessly evaluate impact on learning

Resources• EEF Toolkit• Developing Great Teaching, Teacher Development Trust, June 2015

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Opportunity 5: Stay connected and collaborative

•Connected leadership•Look beyond England•Stay connected to the evidence-base•Support the Foundation for Leadership in Education•Feel like you are in the driving seat!

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And finally, the biggest opportunity: you!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

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Questions?

Download the blueprint from the news and views section of our website: www.ascl.org.uk