‘Heights’ - a cluster of small schools jointly managing CPD through school development
Four headteachers of small and rather isolated schools on the top of the moors just outside Huddersfield have chosen to form a small network or cluster, known collectively as ‘Heights’. The hallmark of this network is the easy relationship between the headteachers and the trust they have in each other. There is no sense of individual competition except, perhaps, on the cricket field – but this is Yorkshire!
Norman, Keith, Richard and Brian came together after being part of a larger network. They have managed to achieve common goals without sacrificing their own school’s identity. This balance between autonomy and group membership is not always easy to sustain but ‘Heights’ have achieved it because they are not just geographically close but also, by and large, philosophically close. In addition, they have total ownership of their group and each school sets aside £2,500 per year, which allows headteachers to develop strategy, teachers to support and learn from each other, and the schools to buy resources and expertise.
As a group, they jointly plan and provide professional development opportunities for their staff; they share expertise and ideas and perhaps most importantly they identify joint key priorities in their school improvement plans.
They also try to develop a co-ordinated response to government initiatives – although Ofsted recommendations sometimes shift the emphasis. However, the staff of each school faces Ofsted a little more confidently because they know that many of their strategies have already been commended by inspectors in other ‘Heights’ schools. Their relaxed approach to externally driven change is as much due to their having close contact with other headteacher colleagues as from gazing at the wonderful views from their classroom windows.
‘Heights’ headteachers have planned face to face meetings with a social lunch, and then a fairly formal session following an agenda that has been distributed by e-mail beforehand. They make good use of ICT for communication and all seem comfortable with the use of new technologies. They have a shared commitment to a broad and balanced curriculum and a quite novel approach to achieving it.
For the past three years, ‘Heights’ have held a joint summer concert focusing on some aspects of the arts such as poetry, dance and music. In each case they have jointly funded the cost of a specialist to work with children and coach their teaching staff. Although the focus is the educational process and the development of intellectual capital in their schools, the final production is greatly enjoyed and valued by all the school communities.
Our thanks to the ‘Heights’ members :
Norman Bailey: Wellhouse Primary
Keith Shilton: Scapegoat Hill Primary
Richard Bottom: Wilberlee Primary
Brian Fawcett: Clough Head Primary
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