Lead and Emerging Practitioner Schools

Further applications may be accepted in the future so please check back at a later date. Please email SSDD@wales.gsi.gov.uk for any enquiries.

Overview

The Welsh Government is funding an effective national school to school improvement strategy to raise standards by matching Lead Practitioner Schools with Emerging Practitioner Schools. The project has been developed in partnership with the four regional consortia in Wales.

This pathfinder project began on 1 May 2013 with an induction event for all schools involved in the project at The Pavilion, Llandrindod Wells.

A full list of the schools involved in the project can be accessed here:

Secondary schools

Abertillery Comprehensive
Bishop Gore School
Caerleon Comprehensive
Cardiff High
Corpus Christi Catholic High
Dyffryn School
John Beddoes High
King Henry VIII High
Llanwern High
Mary Immaculate High
Newtown High
Pen-y-Dre High
St Illtyd's RC High
St Joseph's RC High
Stanwell School
Willows High School
Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen
Ysgol Eirias
Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan
Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni
Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen

Primary Schools

Birchgrove Primary
Bryn Hafod Primary
Castle Park Primary
Deighton Primary
Dunvant Primary
Glan Usk Primary
Glasllwch Primary
Herbert Thompson Primary
Holy Family Primary
Langstone Primary
Pontrhydyfen Primary
Rhydypenau Primary
St John Lloyd RC Primary
St Mary's Catholic Primary
Ysgol Emmanuel
Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn
Ysgol Glan Gele
Ysgol Glanadda
Ysgol Gymraeg Pen-y-Groes
Ysgol Mynydd Bychan
Ysgol O M Edwards
Ysgol Tan y Marian

What is the background to the improvement strategy?

• In summer 2012, the Welsh Government commissioned a task and finish group to develop a model that the four regional consortia in Wales could adopt for the dissemination of best practice.
• The work of this group was to develop an effective school-to-school transformation model that would support and accelerate improvement.

What is the objective of the improvement strategy?

The aim of the Lead and Emerging Practitioner School Pathfinder is to raise primary and secondary school standards by enabling school-to-school support in all consortia areas throughout Wales.

How will it work in practice?

• The Lead Practitioner School will work with developing primary and secondary schools (the Emerging Practitioner School) to disseminate and implement best practice on a systematic basis for up to 18 months, depending on the level of required support as set out in an intervention plan agreed with the Emerging Practitioner School.
• It is anticipated that the Lead Practitioner School Headteacher and/or appropriate Senior Management/Head of Department support will work with the Emerging Practitioner School for at least one day per week (or equivalent) within an agreed geographical area to deliver the outcomes set out in the intervention plan.

What are the criteria required to become a Lead Practitioner School?

• Lead Practitioner Schools will be high performing primary and secondary schools, with a proven leadership track record that has resulted in high levels of learner performance or rapid improvement over a sustained period of at least three years.
• Lead Practitioner Schools should be able to demonstrate top quartile performance for reading, writing and mathematics at the end of Key Stage 2, or, in Level 2 including English/Welsh/mathematics, and can evidence sustained strong performance over the last three years.
• In addition, the school must demonstrate excellent leadership that positively impacts on the high levels of learner performance or rapid improvement over the last three years. Ideally the headteacher will have been in post for a minimum of three years (two years will be considered in exceptional circumstances).

What are the expectations and criteria for an Emerging Practitioner School?

• Emerging Practitioner Schools will already have made efforts in their own right to improve performance with limited success, and be positive and willing to receive additional support from a Lead Practitioner School. Emerging Practitioner Schools may currently lack sufficient capacity and capability within their own leadership structure and organisation to secure improvements without dedicated support.
• Local authorities/consortia will work with schools to identify Emerging Practitioner Schools (two secondary and four primary schools per consortia area).

When can a school apply to become a Lead or Emerging Practitioner School?

• The application process was live from Monday 14 January until Tuesday 12 February 2013. Further applications may be accepted in the future so please check back at a later date.

How were schools matched?

• Each Emerging Practitioner School was matched to a Lead Practitioner School based on the needs and geographical location of the Emerging Practitioner School.
• Each set of matched Lead and Emerging Practitioner Schools was approved by both Welsh Government and the consortia.

How is the strategy funded?

• This 18 month pathfinder is funded by the Welsh Government.
• The Lead Practitioner Schools are grant funded, via the regional consortia, by the Welsh Government to support the Emerging Practitioner Schools.
• Lead Practitioner Schools will be awarded £90,000 (Secondary) or £30,000 (Primary) per assisted Emerging Practitioner School paid pro rata over the 18 month term of the project.
• The funding is utilised as per the agreed Partnership Plan between each set of Lead and Emerging Schools, and will include, for example, additional staff costs to cover Headteacher/Head of Department staff that are working with assisted schools. 

How will the improvement strategy be evaluated?

The pathfinder project will be fully evaluated both during and at the end of the period following which a decision will be made about the nature and extent of future provision.