“However, this report finds that schools with higher standards of pupil attainment and behaviour are less likely to be working in a partnership with other schools”. 

“Whilst ‘bottling’ the magic of successful schools might sound desirable in theory, it should be left to headteachers and school governors to decide whether a partnering arrangement is something they will find beneficial.  Ofsted is planning to evaluate how effectively schools work in partnerships but schools should enter a partnering arrangement because they think it is a good idea, not because they are worried about their next Ofsted report”. 

Mr Bacon was speaking as the National Audit Office published its report into partnering for school improvement.  Partnering is a feature of many of the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ programmes that aim to improve the behaviour and attainment of 11-14 year-old pupils.  Partnering is used to encourage schools to learn from one another, share resources and expertise, improve the quality of teaching and learning, broaden the curriculum, increase choice for pupils and improve services to their communities.

The report finds that schools with better attaining 11 to 14 year olds, with fewer problems with pupil behaviour, and with a relatively small proportion of pupils receiving free school meals are less likely to be working in partnerships than other schools.  The report suggests that schools with better attaining pupils and a stronger record in managing behaviour should be incentivised to share their expertise, and that a potentially strong incentive could be achieved through Ofsted’s plans to evaluate, from September 2009, how effectively schools work in partnership.

9 July 2009

See also:
NAO REPORT: Partnering for school improvement

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