Ofsted reports on improving departments
The notion of attempting to transform individual departments in schools, instead of thinking that one should reform the entire school at one go, was put forward in the 1990s following a study of problem schools in Bristol by Professor Alma Harris. The findings were written up in a subsequent report, “The Improving Department”, which has since become one of the best selling reports into school improvement and has been used by over half the schools in the UK as a way of making improvements without calling in outside experts or spending additional funding (more details below).
The approach described in “The Improving Department” does not require any outside investment or involvement - everything was achieved through a minor modification of the way the teachers in each school worked. However the government has recently tried to modify the approach, using the Teach First scheme, which puts graduates into challenging secondary schools for two years.
Ofsted has now reported on the programme says the programme has been beneficial to both the trainees and the schools involved and that the scheme makes a “notable impact” in transforming underperforming departments and attracts graduates who would not otherwise have considered teaching. Teach First works in schools in London, the north-west and the Midlands - although the original programme, “The Improving Department” (which schools can implement without reference to the Teach First programme), is used in schools of all types in all locations.
Ofsted say that headteachers frequently mentioned the Teach First trainees’ very positive impact on students’ academic achievement, Ofsted found more work was needed to improve the scheme’s effectiveness. For example, trainees who found aspects of teaching difficult were not always identified soon enough or provided with the quality of mentoring they needed to correct this.
Part of the problem, as Ofsted point out, is that very few schools evaluate the quality of their internal training and so don’t know exactly what happens as a result of their own developments, or of programmes like Teach First. Ofsted also criticised Canterbury Christ Church University and partnership schools in Teach First, saying they should improve the planning and organisation of the follow up work.
On the down-side only half of those who have completed the two-year programme remain in teaching.
The original programme: “The Improving Department” is still available as a photocopiable book, on CD or as a download and details are below. All formats can be ordered on line at the website of the publisher.
You can also order in the following ways…
By phone (with a credit card) on 01536 399 011. Please quote Cat No: T1298-Schools.co.uk offer
By post to Hamilton House Mailings plc, Earlstrees Ct, Earlstrees Rd, Corby, Northants NN17 4HH. Schools can be invoiced. Please quote Cat No: T1298-schools.co.uk offer
By fax to 01536 399 012. The publisher can invoice schools with the book or you can quote a credit card. Please quote Cat No: T1298-Schools.co.uk.offer
The prices:
Download: £12.95. Downloads can of course only be ordered on line.
Ringbinder containing photocopiable book: £24.95
CD: £24.95
Printed volume plus CD: £30.94
Delivery: There is naturally no delivery charge on downloads, but for the CD and the printed book there is a charge of £3.95.ISBN: 978 1 86083 365 6