Comments on: Community-Based School Management http://edubuzz.org/blogs/donsblog/2008/06/15/community-based-school-management/ "We learn from our experience.....if we reflect upon our experience" John Dewey Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:00:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Don Ledingham http://edubuzz.org/blogs/donsblog/2008/06/15/community-based-school-management/#comment-11197 Don Ledingham Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:50:02 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/donsblog/2008/06/15/community-based-school-management/#comment-11197 Lynne/Andrea Thanks for your very helpful comments. There is much to learn from others' experiences. The challenge will be create a system which builds upon these experiences and from where we are at this point in time. I think that's why I'm looking at a 5-10 year plan. Lynne/Andrea

Thanks for your very helpful comments. There is much to learn from others’ experiences. The challenge will be create a system which builds upon these experiences and from where we are at this point in time. I think that’s why I’m looking at a 5-10 year plan.

]]> By: Andrea http://edubuzz.org/blogs/donsblog/2008/06/15/community-based-school-management/#comment-11181 Andrea Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:26:18 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/donsblog/2008/06/15/community-based-school-management/#comment-11181 We've been through several learning experiences with Learning Communities and there are lots of different perspectives. Currently where I work we have a Head of Area for 3 learning communities , the Head's team consists of 2 senior managers pupil support - 1 also has a big remit running behaviour bases which is why we have two. The SMPS runs the extended team - LS teachers, behaviour support etc, the attendance officer works from this team too. I work alongside them looking at quality assurance over the area, within our offices we also have the support services team for one of the LCs - each LC has its own team who oversee classroom support, budgets etc etc. Alongside us we have ICS with their co-loacted health, youth workers, social work ect. We are now at the stage of the entire teams being in place and are seeing how this will embed over time. I find what you are saying Don very tempting! As a Head I would have loved the ability to get hold of the entire budget. Decentralising things to the level of the LC with HTs and the extended team having the whole control of what goes on locally. I also think the notion of a Head taking on the role of a LC manager with responsibility for various things is a good one - pay someone an extra bit for this role and it shares out leadership further. The best thing about our current model is without a doubt the co-location and the means to spread collegiate working. Without talking myself out of a job I would love to see the LC having the ability to make really big decisions about staffing and its future with further devloved budgets. In amongst this the outcomes for HTs being agreed with fixed term contracts with a real tie in to meeting the outcomes agreed at local level, with the concordat with the LA still allowing for accountability at LC level but decentralising all the other staff from LC to make efficiency savings. This would give real ownership to schools, break the them and us cycle and give people at all levels the feeling of making a real difference. Schools would not be subsumed within the LCs - of anything I think the ability to share a show good practice to each other is allowing them here to become more individual and brave in making decisions about learning and teaching in indivdual establishments. We’ve been through several learning experiences with Learning Communities and there are lots of different perspectives. Currently where I work we have a Head of Area for 3 learning communities , the Head’s team consists of 2 senior managers pupil support - 1 also has a big remit running behaviour bases which is why we have two. The SMPS runs the extended team - LS teachers, behaviour support etc, the attendance officer works from this team too. I work alongside them looking at quality assurance over the area, within our offices we also have the support services team for one of the LCs - each LC has its own team who oversee classroom support, budgets etc etc. Alongside us we have ICS with their co-loacted health, youth workers, social work ect. We are now at the stage of the entire teams being in place and are seeing how this will embed over time.
I find what you are saying Don very tempting! As a Head I would have loved the ability to get hold of the entire budget. Decentralising things to the level of the LC with HTs and the extended team having the whole control of what goes on locally. I also think the notion of a Head taking on the role of a LC manager with responsibility for various things is a good one - pay someone an extra bit for this role and it shares out leadership further.
The best thing about our current model is without a doubt the co-location and the means to spread collegiate working. Without talking myself out of a job I would love to see the LC having the ability to make really big decisions about staffing and its future with further devloved budgets.
In amongst this the outcomes for HTs being agreed with fixed term contracts with a real tie in to meeting the outcomes agreed at local level, with the concordat with the LA still allowing for accountability at LC level but decentralising all the other staff from LC to make efficiency savings. This would give real ownership to schools, break the them and us cycle and give people at all levels the feeling of making a real difference. Schools would not be subsumed within the LCs - of anything I think the ability to share a show good practice to each other is allowing them here to become more individual and brave in making decisions about learning and teaching in indivdual establishments.

]]> By: Lynne Lewis http://edubuzz.org/blogs/donsblog/2008/06/15/community-based-school-management/#comment-11174 Lynne Lewis Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:45:28 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/donsblog/2008/06/15/community-based-school-management/#comment-11174 Don When I left Glasgow 5 years ago Learning Communities were set up. Glasgow is now backing away from Learning Communities due to cost. Maybe there are lessons we can learn from their experiences before we head down the same road? Don
When I left Glasgow 5 years ago Learning Communities were set up. Glasgow is now backing away from Learning Communities due to cost. Maybe there are lessons we can learn from their experiences before we head down the same road?

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