Wednesday 31 Mar 2010 @ 09:30
Department for Education
Department for Education
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New visits programme launched to help schools learn from the best
Schools Minister Vernon Coaker has announced a new programme to spread educational knowledge and best practice across the country through primary and secondary school-to-school visits.
The ‘Inside Knowledge’ scheme, which will be trialled in a number of schools from April this year, will allow headteachers and other school staff to take part in professionally managed visits to local schools that have excellent, cutting-edge practice in five important areas:
The ‘Inside Knowledge’ scheme, which will be trialled in a number of schools from April this year, will allow headteachers and other school staff to take part in professionally managed visits to local schools that have excellent, cutting-edge practice in five important areas:
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narrowing the gap for disadvantaged pupils
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sustainability
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effective use of assessment data for pupil progress
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best practice in pupils’ writing at Key Stage 2
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managing school budgets effectively to deliver best value.
School nominations
Under the scheme, stakeholders – including local authorities – have been invited to nominate schools that excel in these areas. The schools that are likely to be the most effective hosts will be supported to deliver visits from September, with visiting schools able to give constructive feedback on their experience.
Every school in the country will be able to apply to visit a school in its own region, having found out about what’s on offer through an online prospectus, booking and feedback system.
Each visit will provide an opportunity for host schools to share their own experiences, and for visitors to learn from the best. Visitors – but also hosts – will gain from sharing the 'inside knowledge' that the best schools have already acquired.
Every school in the country will be able to apply to visit a school in its own region, having found out about what’s on offer through an online prospectus, booking and feedback system.
Each visit will provide an opportunity for host schools to share their own experiences, and for visitors to learn from the best. Visitors – but also hosts – will gain from sharing the 'inside knowledge' that the best schools have already acquired.
Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said:
School standards have been transformed over the past 13 years. While the number of schools not achieving the GCSE floor target has dropped dramatically, we want all schools to be making good progress all the time.
We were absolutely clear in our recent White Paper that getting schools to form better partnerships and to learn from each other is a surefire way of pushing standards to the next level – and there’s already strong evidence from Academies and federations to back this up.
But we’re going even further, by getting the best schools and leaders in our system to apply to become Accredited Schools Groups and Accredited Schools Providers, to support and lead chains of schools and spread outstanding practice throughout the country.
The Inside Knowledge programme is yet another way that schools can link up to share their skills to help our system transform from good to great.
Sandra Bunnell, Head Teacher, Mount C of E Primary School in Newark, Nottinghamshire, said:
We are delighted to be nominated as a potential host for the Inside Knowledge programme. We look forward to sharing with other schools our experience in narrowing gaps for our Gypsy/Roma Traveller pupils. But being a host is not a one-way process: we hope also to be visitors ourselves, by visiting one of the leading Sustainable Schools.
The main visits programme will start in September 2010. Before that, the first host schools will trial the programme through structured visits between themselves – starting in April.
Inside Knowledge delivers the Government’s commitment in the recent schools White Paper to support a national programme of school-to-school visits, enabling schools to work together and share best practice.
Inside Knowledge delivers the Government’s commitment in the recent schools White Paper to support a national programme of school-to-school visits, enabling schools to work together and share best practice.
Further information
Visits will begin from September 2010. In the first round, around 60 host schools will offer structured visits in the key topic areas. Hosts and visitors can be from any state-funded primary or secondary school in England (the online catalogue will set out any limitations for particular topics).
Visitors will meet their own travel costs but will not be charged any fee.
The quality of visits will be assured by online feedback from hosts and visitors, both immediate (on the day), and on later reflection. The feedback will show how far the visiting schools changed their practice as a result.
This new project delivers a commitment from the Your child, your schools, our future: building a 21st century schools systemWhite Paper, which encourages better partnerships, federations and schools linking more effectively to help drive up standards.
Each visit will address a specific topic. An outline agenda is agreed in advance between the host and the seven or so visiting schools (typically two practitioners from each). Visits, typically half a day, will include an opportunity to meet with peers, tour relevant activities and discuss with key staff.
Each visit will address a specific topic. An outline agenda is agreed in advance between the host and the seven or so visiting schools (typically two practitioners from each). Visits, typically half a day, will include an opportunity to meet with peers, tour relevant activities and discuss with key staff.
Media should contact the DCSF Press Office on 020 7935 6789.
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