Education Support Services in the London Borough of IslingtonIn April 2000, Cambridge Education won the contract to provide education support services to the inner London Borough of Islington. A year later, Ofsted noted rapidly improved relationships between Cambridge Education (acting as the Local Authority) and the schools. In the following years the successful partnership between Cambridge Education and the Islington schools has transformed the quality of education and pupil outcomes. In 2006, the contract was renewed until 2011 and it has recently been extended to 2013.Cambridge Education provides a full range of services including school governance and management, school improvement, training for teaching and support staff, and technical
functions such as admissions, finance and management information. Services cover all schools and settings, for children and young people aged 3-16 including those with learning difficulties and disabilities (SEN). How we did it - Review of quality and impact of activity of all senior managers against specified Key Performance indicators (KPIs).
- Strategy for re-engagement with all key stakeholders, particularly schools, school governors and national partners.
- Quickly put in place a strategic development plan and ensured that key stakeholders signed up to it.
- Linked the new development plan to strong performance management arrangements and regular review mechanisms for performance.
- Took tough decisions internally and externally where needed, while remotivating underperforming staff who had the capacity to improve.
The contract sets out a range of KPIs which are monitored each term and annually. These KPIs include pupil performance results, both at the end of Key Stage 2 and at GCSE, plus targets related to school exclusions, school attendance, statutory duties, strategic plans and policies, and surveys and customer feedback. Pupil outcomes have dramatically improved, for example the percentage of pupils in Islington schools achieving at least five GCSEs at grades A* to C has risen from 28% (in 2000) to 72.2% (in 2010). Islington's School Improvement Services, including its Ethnic Minority Achievement Services, now has a national reputation for quality and impact. The Cambridge education model has been replicated and delivered in other Local Authorities. Cambridge Education added value: - high quality of staff, especially senior level, have been both attracted and retained; the closeness and effectiveness of our relationships with stakeholders;
- commitment to openness and integrity;
- relentless focus on education standards, while strongly promoting a wide range of developmental opportunities for young people, such as art, music and sport;
- intelligent use of data to target resources;
- flexibility coupled with capability to foster innovation and to share good practice.
Find out more
For more information please call 01223 463915 or email info@camb-ed.com |