Go to Guide 2018-19 Published April 2018 - Challenge Partners
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Go to Guide 2018–19 Published April 2018
Contents Foreword
A very warm welcome to the Network of Excellence (NoE).
FOREWORD 2 COMMUNICATIONS 17 Whether you are a long-standing member or as new to it as I am,
Ways in which we communicate 17 I hope you find participation in the NoE an enriching experience
INTRODUCTION 3
Who we are 17 both personally and for your school.
MEMBERSHIP OVERVIEW 4
HUB MANAGERS’ TOOLKIT 19 Since joining Challenge Partners to secure greater excellence and equity for our
The membership offer 4
An overview of the Hub 19 in February 2018, I have heard two schools and communities.
Membership wall planner 5 Manager’s role messages consistently from NoE
members. The first is that participating We are proud that Challenge Partners has always
How to grow your hub 24 in Quality Assurance Reviews is “the been driven by you, our members. Harnessing the
HUBS 8 best CPD ever”. The second is that insight, expertise and creativity of the practitioners
What to expect from 27
Induction and welcome 9 the Central Team “you get out of NoE membership what you put in”. in our network is what enables us to remain at the
This is particularly important in a time of tightening cutting edge of school improvement practice. What
Hub meetings 9 Materials you can use to support 27 budgets, when we know you will be looking for you bring, share, and co-create with colleagues in
Hub Action Plans 10 you in your role maximum value for money. That is why we have the NoE will help ensure that collectively our schools
not increased our prices, but continue to evolve continue to raise the bar on school and student
Hub funding 11 Tips and tools for managing your hub 29 and improve what we offer schools. performance, contributing to better outcomes for the
The Central Team 11 children, young people and communities we serve.
Hub-led events 12 APPENDIX 31 This guide, our Memberships Team, Hub Managers
and Senior Partners are all on hand to support I look forward to working with you over
Our approach 31 you in getting the most out of your membership. the coming year.
QA REVIEW 13 Checklist for schools 33 They will enable you both to contribute to and
derive benefit from participation in your local hub Dr Kate Chhatwal
Training for the QA Review 14 and our national network, as we strive together Chief Executive
Supporting reviews 14
Hosting a review 14
SCHOOL SUPPORT AND 15
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMES
Overview 15
Leadership Development Days 15
Leadership Residency Programme 15
Challenge the Gap 15
EAL in the mainstream classroom 16
Getting Ahead London 16
School Support Directory 16
The Challenge Partners website 16
ii CHALLENGE PARTNERS Go to Guide 2018–19 2
Introduction Membership overview
The Challenge Partners’ Network of Excellence Hubs – hubs are our local network of schools that The membership offer
comprises of over 400 schools across the country. come together to pool their knowledge and resources.
Each school in the Network of Excellence is part of Here you will learn what to expect from your hub. To understand what you have access to, we have set out the
a local hub with other schools in their region. Hubs
collectively agree on their top priorities for school QA Review – every school has the opportunity to
membership offer into three sections. We want you to make the
improvement, and write an action plan that outlines both join and receive a professionally-led peer review most of your membership and have therefore included a checklist
programmes and activities that will address these
priorities. You will be able to make use of local and
focused on teaching and learning.
for members in the Appendix.
national opportunities to support your school in School support and additional programmes – in
reaching its improvement aims. addition to the QA Review, you have access to a menu CHALLENGE AND SUPPORT FOR YOUR SCHOOL Hub funding
of services including Leadership Development Days. Quality Assurance Review (QA Review) •F
unding from Challenge Partners (derived from
This guide will tell you what help and support you •A
n annual peer review of teaching and learning membership fees) to allocate towards activities
can expect and who to contact in the Central Team Communications – you will find ways in which we in your school that further your hub’s local aims
for more information. keep in touch and the contact details for the Central •T
raining and support to send senior leaders •T
he local area hub can apply to Challenge Partners
Team members who support you. to review other schools for funding to run an event for other Network of
This guide is divided into five sections to help you •C
PD for senior leaders to review other schools Excellence members nationally and locally
understand how we work, what you can contribute You can read more about the approach behind •O
pportunity to apply for an accredited Area
and what support you can expect. You can also find Challenge Partners in the Appendix. You will also of Excellence in your school Evidence-driven approach to collaboration
further details of support for Hub Managers at the find a useful checklist for schools in the Appendix, •E
ngage with research
end of the guide. which can be used to ensure you are getting the •T
raining to support other programmes such
most from your membership. Identify support for your improvement objectives as Challenge the Gap and the Leadership
Membership overview – a summary of activities to •F ollow up from the Central Team to help you consider Residency Programme
get involved in, with an attached wall planner for you what support you need following your QA Review
to plot your own key dates. •S ignposting to areas of excellent practice through
our School Support Directory
•L eadership Development Days allow school leaders BE PART OF A NATIONAL COMMUNITY
with specific improvement needs to visit a school Engage with best practice
with outstanding provision in that area •B
e part of a national community
•F
ree or subsidised places at national conferences
and events
•A
ccess to information, case studies and examples
SUPPORT FROM YOUR LOCAL HUB of practice through the members area of the
Hub funding to facilitate a menu of support Challenge Partners website
Schools in the hub co-create their Hub Action Plan and •W
eekly newsletter email containing updates
can undertake activities which support their school on events, policy, grants and funds, publications,
improvement aims. These can include, for example: news and blogs
•O levi Improving Teaching Programme (ITP), •N
ational induction for all new schools
Outstanding Teaching Programme (OTP), •M
ember discounts for selected services
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Programme (OTAP) e.g. Researchers in Schools, Olevi and more
•N LE/SLE support days
•S ubject reviews Collectively address challenges
•R esearch projects •J
oin phase or theme-specific forums
•L ocal conferences •S
hare emerging practice
•C
ontribute to research and policy
Hub meetings •C
ontribute to national policy platform
•R
egular meetings to share practice and collaborate and joint responses to consultations
on common school improvement priorities
3 CHALLENGE PARTNERS Go to Guide 2018–19 4
Membership wall planner Key dates for the year to help you build your school improvement plan
APRIL 2018 MAY 2018 JUNE 2018 JULY 2018 AUGUST 2018 SEPTEMBER 2018 OCTOBER 2018 NOVEMBER 2018 DECEMBER 2018 JANUARY 2019 FEBRUARY 2019 MARCH 2019
Mo 1 QA Reviews Mo
Tu 1 2 QA Reviews 1 New Year's Day Tu
We 2 1 3 QA Reviews 2 QA Reviews We
Th 3 2 4 QA Reviews 1 QA Reviews 3 QA Reviews Th
Fr 4 1 3 5 QA Reviews 2 QA Reviews 4 QA Reviews 1 QA Reviews 1 QA Reviews Fr
Sa 5 2 4 1 6 3 1 5 2 2 Sa
Su 1 6 3 1 5 2 7 4 2 6 3 3 Su
Mo 2 Easter Monday 7 Bank holiday 4 2 Reviewer training 6 3 Reviewer training 8 QA Reviews 5 QA Reviews 3 QA Reviews 7 QA Reviews 4 QA Reviews 4 QA Reviews Mo
Tu 3 8 5 Reviewer training 3 Reviewer training 7 4 Reviewer training 9 QA Reviews 6 QA Reviews 4 QA Reviews 8 QA Reviews 5 QA Reviews 5 QA Reviews Tu
Senior Partners Senior Partners
and Hub and Hub
We 4 9 6 Reviewer training 4 Reviewer training 8 5 Reviewer training 10 7 QA Reviews 5 QA Reviews 9 QA Reviews 6 6 QA Reviews We
Managers Managers
meeting meeting
Th 5 10 7 Reviewer training 5 Reviewer training 9 6 Reviewer training 11 QA Reviews 8 QA Reviews 6 QA Reviews 10 QA Reviews 7 QA Reviews 7 QA Reviews Th
Hub Action Plans
Fr 6 11 8 Reviewer training 6 10 7 Reviewer training 12 QA Reviews 9 QA Reviews 7 QA Reviews 11 QA Reviews 8 QA Reviews 8 QA Reviews Fr
(HAPs)
Sa 7 12 9 7 11 8 13 10 8 12 9 9 Sa
Su 8 13 10 8 12 9 14 11 9 13 10 10 Su
QA Review
Mo 9 14 11 Reviewer training 9 Reviewer training 13 10 Reviewer training 15 QA Reviews 12 QA Reviews 10 QA Reviews 14 QA Reviews 11 QA Reviews 11 QA Reviews Mo
schedule release
QA Review
Tu 10 15 12 Reviewer training 10 Reviewer training 14 11 Reviewer training 16 QA Reviews 13 QA Reviews 11 QA Reviews 15 QA Reviews 12 QA Reviews 12 QA Reviews Tu
schedule release
QA Review
We 11 16 13 Reviewer training 11 Reviewer training 15 12 Reviewer training 17 QA Reviews 14 QA Reviews 12 QA Reviews 16 QA Reviews 13 QA Reviews 13 QA Reviews We
schedule release
QA Review
Th 12 17 14 Reviewer training 12 Reviewer training 16 13 Reviewer training 18 QA Reviews 15 QA Reviews 13 QA Reviews 17 QA Reviews 14 QA Reviews 14 QA Reviews Th
schedule release
National
QA Review
Fr 13 18 15 Reviewer training 13 induction event, 17 14 Reviewer training 19 QA Reviews 16 QA Reviews 14 QA Reviews 18 QA Reviews 15 QA Reviews 15 QA Reviews Fr
schedule release
London
Sa 14 19 16 14 18 15 20 17 15 19 16 16 Sa
Su 15 20 17 15 19 16 21 18 16 20 17 17 Su
Mo 16 21 18 Reviewer training 16 20 17 QA Reviews 22 QA Reviews 19 QA Reviews 17 QA Reviews 21 QA Reviews 18 QA Reviews 18 QA Reviews Mo
Tu 17 22 19 Reviewer training 17 21 18 QA Reviews 23 QA Reviews 20 QA Reviews 18 QA Reviews 22 QA Reviews 19 QA Reviews 19 QA Reviews Tu
We 18 23 20 Reviewer training 18 22 19 QA Reviews 24 QA Reviews 21 QA Reviews 19 QA Reviews 23 QA Reviews 20 QA Reviews 20 QA Reviews We
Th 19 24 21 Reviewer training 19 23 20 QA Reviews 25 QA Reviews 22 QA Reviews 20 QA Reviews 24 QA Reviews 21 QA Reviews 21 QA Reviews Th
Fr 20 25 22 Reviewer training 20 24 21 QA Reviews 26 QA Reviews 23 QA Reviews 21 QA Reviews 25 QA Reviews 22 QA Reviews 22 QA Reviews Fr
Sa 21 26 23 21 25 22 27 24 22 26 23 23 Sa
Su 22 27 24 22 26 23 28 25 23 27 24 24 Su
Summer
Mo 23 QA Reviewer 28 Bank holiday 25 Reviewer training 23 27 Bank holiday 24 QA Reviews 29 QA Reviews 26 QA Reviews 24 QA Reviews 28 QA Reviews 25 QA Reviews 25 QA Reviews Mo
training deadline
Tu 24 29 26 Reviewer training 24 28 25 QA Reviews 30 QA Reviews 27 QA Reviews 25 Christmas Day 29 QA Reviews 26 QA Reviews 26 QA Reviews Tu
Senior Partners Senior Partners
and Hub and Hub
We 25 30 27 25 29 26 QA Reviews 31 QA Reviews 28 QA Reviews 26 Boxing Day 30 QA Reviews 27 QA Reviews 27 QA Reviews We
Managers Managers
meeting meeting
Challenge
Th 26 31 28 Reviewer training 26 30 27 QA Reviews 29 QA Reviews 27 QA Reviews 31 Partners National 28 QA Reviews 28 QA Reviews Th
Conference
Fr 27 29 Reviewer training 27 31 28 QA Reviews 30 QA Reviews 28 QA Reviews 29 QA Reviews Fr
Sa 28 30 28 29 29 30 Sa
New membership
Su 29 29 30 30 31 and renewal Su
deadline
Reviewer
Mo 30 30 31 Mo
training ends
DATES OF NOTE:
• Deadline for applying for summer QA reviewer • September to December 2018 – autumn term 2018
HUBS
Training: 23rd April 2018 QA reviewer training block (dates TBC) (please
• 25th April 2018 Senior Partners and note that there will no training after the autumn
Hub Managers meeting 2018 term, unlike in previous membership years)
• QA Review schedule release: Mid-may • QA Review period: 17th September 2018
• 27th June 2018 Senior Partners and Hub Managers – 3rd April 2019
meeting • 10th October 2018 Senior Partners and
• 5th June – 12th July 2018 Summer Term QA Hub Managers meeting
reviewer training block for Senior Leaders • 31st January 2019 National Conference
• 6th July Hub Action Plans (HAPs) to be submitted • 6th February 2019 Senior Partners and
to the Central Team by Hub Managers Hub Managers meeting
• 13th July National induction event, London • 31st March 2019 Deadline for membership renewal
and new membership applications
QA REVIEWER TRAINING FOR SENIOR LEADERS
Please note that these sessions may be subject to change.
To apply for SLT to attend QA reviewer training, please follow this link: tinyurl.com/cpreviewertraining.
Alternatively, please contact Grace Hiorns at review@challengepartners.org
DATE HUB SCHOOL
5th June Chiltern Hub Challney High School for Boys and Community College
6th June Enfield Hub Southgate School
8th June London West Hub Perivale Primary School
12th June Wootton Bassett Hub Royal Wootton Bassett Academy
13th June Bengeworth Hub Bengeworth CE Academy
19th June East Midlands South Hub Bosworth Academy
20th June Transform Hub Brocklewood Primary Academy
20th June Camden Hub Fitzjohn's Primary School
21st June North West Hub Altrincham Girls' Grammar School
21st June Pickhurst Juniors Hub Pickhurst Academy
22nd June Impact Alliance Hub Pickhurst Infant Academy
27th June Compton Hub Finchley Catholic High School
28th June Herts and Bucks Hub St Michael's Catholic High School
29th June Three Shires Hub Brooklands Farm Primary School
2nd July Cheam Hub Cheam Common Junior Academy The Network of Excellence is made up of over
3rd July London Special and AP Hub Drumbeat School & ASD Service 30 local hubs of schools around the country and
6th July Portsmouth Hub Admiral Lord Nelson School operates through distributed leadership, with each
9th July Torbay Hub Sherwell Valley Primary School hub empowered to set its own priorities and targets,
10th July Kingsbridge Hub Kingsbridge Community College to take decisions about ways of working and to
11th July Cornwall Hub Trevithick Learning Academy deliver a bespoke programme of activities which
11th July Tendring Hub Tendring Technology College enable all schools in the hub to improve. This section
12th July East Coast Hub Ashley School Academy Trust, The guides you through what to expect from your hub.
7 CHALLENGE PARTNERS Go to Guide 2018–19 8
THE ROLE OF THE SENIOR PARTNER Recommended induction approaches: • School to school support – each school needs Suggested themes for termly hub meetings:
A Senior Partner is the headteacher or executive • Attending the national induction event on to consider what support they feel they need from
headteacher responsible for a hub of Network of 13th July 2018 their local hub schools or from across the national
Excellence member schools, and is appointed either • A visit from the Hub Manager or Senior Partner network of schools. You can use time at the meeting TERM 1 (Planning)
through proven experience as head of a Teaching of your hub to your school to discuss how best to tackle shared issues
School or CEO of a multi-academy trust (MAT), or as • A welcome pack containing the Terms of Reference, • Leadership Development Days and other events • Induction and welcome to Challenge Partners
an elected representative from within the hub of the previous year’s Hub Action Plan, hub meeting – there should be a regular update on what events • Discuss your school’s support needs
schools. dates and other dates of interest are coming up through the national network. Schools and strengths
• Ensuring that all members of the school team that have attended a Leadership Development Day • Arrange QA reviewer training with the
The Senior Partners play a vital role at both the are inducted by the headteacher, following their or another event can update others in the hub on Challenge Partners Central Team
national and local level leading Challenge Partners to attendance at the national induction event what they learned • Finalise Hub Action Plan detailing activities
fulfil our aims through 4 key areas: • Attending local QA reviewer training for for 2018–19
1. Leadership of the Network of Excellence SLT members You can see an example hub meeting agenda on • Agree hub funding budget allocation
and developing the strategy the Challenge Partners website, in the members area.
2. E stablishing a collaborative working culture Please use the following link to access the document:
3. S haring and creating knowledge Hub meetings tinyurl.com/hubmeetingagenda. TERM 2 (Challenge)
4. Ensuring the correct infrastructure is in place
to support our work in the Network of Excellence Your hub commits to holding at least one hub • Review Hub Action Plan and refine based on
meeting a term. The hub meetings dates should summer attainment and achievement results
THE ROLE OF THE HUB MANAGER be agreed at the start of the membership year and • Attend/host a QA Review and share your
The Hub Manager works closely with the Senior an agenda for each meeting should be distributed experience with the hub
Partner and has a more operational role in running in advance of each meeting by your Hub Manager. • Consider what support you can share and
the hub. Every school is committed to sending a representative need from the local hub and the national
from the school to every meeting. This is usually network of schools
The Hub Manager will induct new schools into the headteacher, but can be another member of • Attend locally run programmes, activities
the hub, arrange and run hub meetings, convey your school’s senior leadership team to deputise and workshops agreed in the Hub Action Plan
the latest news from the national network, support when needed. • Make use of opportunities to attend events
the schools in the hub to produce a Hub Action Plan, and activities nationally e.g. Leadership
in some cases they will attend the final meeting for Hub meetings may be held at the Senior Partner’s Development Days, hub-led events, national
each school’s QA Review, and they will follow up and Hub Manager’s school but they can be held on a conference and more
any support requests with the school following rotational basis at different schools in the hub. Some
their QA Review. hubs, where membership is dispersed across a wide
geographical area, choose to meet at a central venue
TERM 3 (Support)
Hub Managers also work closely with the that may not be a school, but that can be reached
Challenge Partners Central Team to ensure that easily by all.
• Measure impact of Hub Action Plan
schools are meeting their QA Review commitment,
• Use School Support Directory to access best
arranging replacement reviewers if necessary and As part of a typical hub meeting, the agenda should
practice from other schools
arranging school to school support from within contain the following standard items:
• Start planning for the next membership year
the hub or nationally. • A temperature check – as a school, what are
using WWWs and EBIs from QA Review reports
you concerned about, what excites you, what
are your immediate and long-term priorities?
Induction and welcome • Hub Action Plan – you should be regularly revisiting
your Hub Action Plan to discuss its development,
It is an integral and important part of your membership look at how hub funding has been allocated and Hub Action Plans
to be an active and equal partner in the hub. This the impact of your activities to date
means that your induction should include: • QA Review update – each school shares their Each school in the Challenge Partners Network of
experience of either hosting their own review Excellence joins a local area hub. Hubs receive funding
• An overview of Challenge Partners, the Network of or attending a QA Review at another school subject to size, which comes from a portion of each
Excellence and our approach • QA Review commitments – check whether all member school’s membership fee. The funding
• A background and overview of your hub, including schools are meeting their QA Review commitments supports activities which a hub sets out in order to
expectations of how schools work together through and offer forthcoming opportunities. Arrange any achieve its desired outcomes. Each hub must create
the hub’s Terms of Reference replacements from within the hub for any reviewers a Hub Action Plan setting out its aims throughout the
• The membership offer and what activities are who have had to drop out of a QA Review year and how it will spend the hub funding allocated.
available at hub and at national level
To start the process of creating a Hub Action Plan,
your Hub Manager will look at schools’ QA Review
9 CHALLENGE PARTNERS Go to Guide 2018–19 10
reports, where the school has been a member for Schools have internal systems for sharing good Hub meeting visits – the Central Team will endeavour well as opening up opportunities for collaboration
a year or more, to map out all of the priorities for practice and strengths so that the quality of teaching, to visit a hub meeting at least once a year in order to and sharing practice with the rest of our network.
schools across the hub. Where a school is new, the learning and assessment is consistent across all provide support, updates and to share learning.
Hub Manager will ask the school for its priorities. teaching and curriculum areas, systems, and processes. We have set up a hub-led events fund of up to £5,000
(Tendring Hub) Hub Manager Dashboard – we will provide the Hub each term for hubs to draw on, to subsidise up to half
The draft plan will be discussed in the first meeting Manager with an overview of every school in their hub of the costs of the event. At least 25% of places should
of the membership year and should be finalised by Subject/area improvement which will include up to date contact details, school be reserved for Challenge Partners member schools
the end of the term, ready to be implemented from Middle leaders/subject leaders share best practice data, outcomes of QA Reviews, WWWs and EBIs, QA outside your hub.
the new academic year. It is important to think about to support challenge for all in the classroom. reviewer commitments and latest Ofsted information.
how schools can use the expertise of the national (Enfield Hub) This tool will be useful for supporting schools and In addition to allocating funds, we will also work with
network of schools when setting out priorities. ensuring that they are meeting their commitments the event organiser within your hub to promote your
This can be through the School Support Directory, Collaboration between primary pupils of the Challenge with regards the QA review. event through a variety of national channels, including
Leadership Development Days and other activities. Partners schools in a joint Science event aimed at high our weekly newsletter, regular Hub Manager email
achieving students. (East Midlands South Hub) QA Review – the QA Review team organises training, updates and our Challenge Partners Twitter feed.
There are four key areas your Hub Action Plan schedules reviews and allocates review teams. Staff in
needs to cover: To improve outcomes in specific subject areas through the QA Review team and the Memberships Team are
the work of Subject Networks lead by SLEs in the Hub. available for any queries you have by phone or by “I loved the day and got so
1. Agreed priorities your hub of schools would
like to work towards
(Kingsbridge Hub) email, during office hours.
much out of it – I’m buzzing
2. Planned activities you will set out to complete Pupil progress with ideas.”
during the year to support your aims Outcomes for high achieving children, especially Hub-led events
3. How funding will be allocated against the priorities focussing on progress in Writing for Year 6. Attendee at Herts and Bucks hub-led event
and activities you have set (Torbay Hub) As well as receiving hub funding, hubs can bid for
4. H ow you will measure the impact of your Hub access to additional funding to create events which The application form for hub-led event funding
Action Plan Enable schools to revisit and review assessment are relevant to the rest of the national network of can be found on the Challenge Partners website
practice in light of developing best practice schools. Proposed events can range from CPD sessions in the members area by following this link:
and Progress 8. (London West Hub) and Teach Meets, to full-day conferences. The aim is tinyurl.com/hubeventfunding. The timeline for funding
Hub funding to support events which help your hub in its work, as applications throughout the year is displayed below:
A proportion of membership fees from schools in your The Central Team
hub is contributed to your hub funding pot. This is
used to subsidise the collaborative programmes and Each Hub Manager and Senior Partner, and the
activities you agree to run in your Hub Action Plan. schools in their hub, receive support from a dedicated Summer term 2018 Autumn term 2018 Spring term 2019
member of the Challenge Partners Central Team.
Hub funding is released once the Hub Action Plan and In addition, the QA Review team will work with each
hub meeting dates have been submitted to the Central school to schedule and manage the logistics of the Hub-led events Hub-led events Hub-led events
Team and all schools have paid their membership fees. QA Reviews they attend and the review that takes
Once the funding is released, the hub needs to organise place at their school. APR MAY JUN JUL SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR
and promote activities for the rest of the membership
year, for schools to plan time for, accordingly. The Central Team supports schools and hubs in the
following ways:
Hub funding can be used to cover the cost of external Hub Manager catch ups – a member of the Central
suppliers or providers and their expenses and to cover Team will be your Hub Manager’s dedicated
supply costs to release staff but is not used to Memberships Manager. They will schedule a call at
reimburse schools for incentivising staff participation. least once a term and will send regular weekly updates 18 May 6 Jul 12 Oct 7 Dec 25 Jan
to help support the Hub Manager with information
EXAMPLES OF HUB FUNDING USE ARE: such as the reviewer commitment per school,
Teaching and learning upcoming review dates, latest review reports, as well Deadline for bids for summer term events Deadline for bids for spring term events
Decide upon and implement lesson observation, as opportunities and events nationally. (pre February half-term)
feedback and appraisal procedures for all schools
Deadline for bids for autumn term events Deadline for bids for spring term events
in agreement with all headteachers. Implement a Senior Partner catch ups – a member of the Central (pre October half-term) (post February half-term)
monitoring schedule. (Cheam Hub) Team will support each Senior Partner. They will hold a
Deadline for bids for autumn term events
catch up call once a term and will support the Senior (post October half-term)
Performance of the most able – share good practice Partners to carry out their role with regards creating
and effective strategies and evaluate the impact. strategy and promoting local and national influence.
(Herts and Bucks Hub)
11 CHALLENGE PARTNERS Go to Guide 2018–19 12
QA Review Training for the QA Review
•H
eadteachers will receive a link to an online
application form to sign up for training, from
March 2018. The form can be found at
The Challenge Partners quality assurance is Each school in the Network of Excellence receives
tinyurl.com/cpreviewertraining
built around the QA Review, a professionally-led, an annual 3 day QA review, and reciprocates this
•H
eadteachers and executive headteachers of
collaborative, peer review focused on teaching by sending their headteacher and senior leaders to
new schools and schools that are returning to the
and learning. The review identifies areas for review other schools across the national network at
Network of Excellence, as well new headteachers
development, bringing key challenges to schools different points throughout the year. All reviewers are
or executive headteachers of schools that are already
for the coming year and also provides Continuing trained by Challenge Partners prior to experiencing
members of the Network of Excellence, must attend
Professional Development (CPD) for the visiting their first review. The new QA Review Handbook for
reviewer training as this will build the foundations
team members. 2018/19 is available in the members area of the
of the ethos that the review is built on, and will
Challenge Partners website.
give greater understanding of the review process
•N
ew member schools must send their headteacher,
assistant headteacher, associate headteacher or
How the QA Review works
deputy headteachers on training
REVIEW TEAM REVIEW REVIEW REPORT •A
t least one trained senior leader (preferably
the headteacher) must attend a review before
having a QA Review in their own school
Lead Reviewer
Ofsted-experienced What Went Well
What are my strengths?
Supporting reviews
• It is a requirement that you send out the same number
of trained reviewers on QA Reviews as the number
Even Better If you will be expecting on your own QA Review
Where can I improve? •R eview team size is determined by the criteria below:
Reviewers
Senior leaders Number Primary/Special/ Secondary/16+/
from across the of pupils AP/Middle All-through
partnership Area of Excellence
School support and
additional programmes
Overview The aim is to provide senior and middle leaders with
the opportunity to gain experience in another school
Challenge Partners provides each school with a environment, provide the host school with valuable
comprehensive set of resources to support your feedback and analysis, and strengthen collaborative
school’s improvement aims as identified in your bonds within the hub. This involves the delivery of a
School Improvement Plan, QA Review, Ofsted 2–3 day residency at a host school and post-residency
inspection and other sources. We can help you training and coaching sessions.
share information, learn from others and tap into
wider opportunities in the following ways: Although timings will vary on a hub-by-hub basis, the
Leadership Residency matching typically takes place
in the autumn term, with the residencies and reflection EAL in the mainstream classroom The programme has had great success over the
Leadership Development Days sessions taking place in the spring term. last two years with participants stating they feel
EAL in the mainstream classroom is a pilot an increase in confidence and an understanding
Leadership Development Days are structured school Ask your Hub Manager or the Central Team programme jointly funded by the Education of their next steps. Several participants have already
visits lasting one day, enabling visitors to immerse for more information. Endowment Foundation, the Bell Foundation been offered a headship position.
themselves in the context and practice of a school and Unbound Philanthropy and delivered by
with expertise in a particular area. Challenge Partners in conjunction with Hounslow To find out more, please contact Lottie Hayes in the
Challenge the Gap Language Service and Lampton School. Central Team at lottie.hayes@challengepartners.org
This year, a whole range of schools in Challenge
Partners are hosting Leadership Development Challenge the Gap is a practitioner-led, whole-school Within a context of decreased funding for support
Days, covering topics such as maths, English, SEND, improvement programme, designed to break the link for students with English as an additional language, School Support Directory
sixth form, middle leadership, Pupil Premium and between poverty and poor outcomes. and increasing pressures on schools, in terms of EAL
assessment. 3–5 pairs of senior and middle leaders student numbers and increased literacy demands Our School Support Directory is our online tool which
from different schools attend each day, providing the The Challenge the Gap programme delivers lasting within the curriculum, the EAL in the mainstream enables you to connect with other schools in your hub
opportunity for schools to collaborate with colleagues and transformational impact for disadvantaged pupils classroom programme offers an innovative approach and across the national network of schools. Through
nationally. Attendees are invited to observe lessons, and outstanding professional development to school to supporting academic literacy. the directory, you can search for information on any
learn about the school’s journey, address challenges leaders, teachers and para-professionals through a school in the network, including latest Ofsted rating,
and reflect with colleagues. series of workshops, school-to-school collaboration This three-year evaluation takes the form of a school Areas of Excellence and other data. You can use
and personalised school visits led by our experts. randomised control trial working with York University this information to connect with specific schools to
You can sign up via the Challenge Partners website to analyse the impact of the programme nationwide, arrange a visit yourself, or you can book to attend a
in the Events section, which can be found at The programme uses a strategic evidence-based following an initially successful and well-received Leadership Development Day directly through the site
challengepartners.org/events. model whereby school teams learn how to develop, London-based pilot. (subject to availability). You can access the School
trial and scale up effective, tailored strategies to Support Directory from the Challenge Partners website.
Leadership Residency benefit disadvantaged pupils in their context, using
latest research, best practice and emerging innovation.
To find out more, please visit the Challenge Partners
website at tinyurl.com/ealmainstream or contact the
Programme Central Team at eal@challengepartners.org The Challenge Partners website
Originally sponsored by the Education Endowment
The Leadership Residency programme is an Foundation (EEF), the Challenge the Gap programme We have recently updated our website so that it
experiential leadership development programme is now a sustainable programme funded by Getting Ahead London is easier to find what you need to. There is now
for senior and middle leaders. The programme participating schools. a members-only area, which contains resources,
combines theory and practical application with Getting Ahead London is a Greater London case studies, and other information that will be
a focus on feedback, reflection and coaching, To find out more, please visit Authority (GLA) programme which was designed useful to you during your membership. You will
delivered through a Challenge Partners hub. If challengepartners.org/challenge-gap or contact by Challenge Partners and PricewaterhouseCoopers need to set up your own username and password
a hub chooses to run the programme, Challenge the Central Team at ctg@challengepartners.org (PwC). The programme aims to help senior leaders to access this area of the website. The members-only
Partners will provide the hub with frameworks in schools prepare for headship. This is achieved area can be accessed through the following link:
and support required to run it. through coaching from experienced headteachers challengepartners.org/private
and cohort-wide events.
15 CHALLENGE PARTNERS Go to Guide 2018–19 16
Communications Dr Penny Barratt Executive Headteacher,
The Bridge Teaching School
Alison Beane Executive Headteacher,
Solent Academies Trust
Ways in which we communicate
Jane Booth Headteacher, Ash Field Academy
Along with communications from your Hub Manager,
the Challenge Partners Central Team will keep you George Croxford CEO,
regularly updated about what’s happening across the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust
national network, including news, events, interesting
practice, and opportunities to get involved. The ways Kate Frood Headteacher,
in which we will stay in touch include: Eleanor Palmer Primary School
• The website challengepartners.org Gary Handforth Director of Primary Education,
• Weekly newsletters Bright Futures Educational Trust
• Twitter @ChallengePartnr
Maxine Low Headteacher,
Brooklands Farm Primary School
Who we are
Rebecca Meredith CEO, Transform Trust
If you want to contact us directly, here are the details
for all our Central Team members and of the Executive Ann Marie Mulkerins Headteacher,
Team for the Network of Excellence: The Compton School
Dr Kate Chhatwal CEO Lottie Hayes Programme Coordinator Kieran Osborne CEO, Impact Multi-Academy Trust
kate.chhatwal@challengepartners.org – Getting Ahead London
lottie.hayes@challengepartners.org Adrian Percival CEO, Haberdashers’ Aske’s Federation
Dame Sue John Executive Director
sue.john@challengepartners.org Matthew Ball Programme Coordinator Carolyn Robson CEO, Rushey Mead Educational Trust
– Challenge the Gap
Penny Rabiger Head of Membership matthew.ball@challengepartners.org Josie Valentine CEO, Danes Educational Trust
penny.rabiger@challengepartners.org
Roisin Killick Programme Coordinator
Verity Cane Memberships Manager – EAL in the Mainstream Classroom Trustees
verity.cane@challengepartners.org roisin.killick@challengepartners.org As a charity, our Leadership Team and Senior
Partners are accountable to our Board of Trustees.
Jonathan Goggs Memberships Manager Our Trustees ensure that Challenge Partners continues
jonathan.goggs@challengepartners.org WHO ELSE SUPPORTS OUR WORK? to work towards our aims and that the partnership
remains financially and legally compliant.
Tamsin Mowat Memberships Manager The Leadership Team
tamsin.mowat@challengepartners.org This is a group of Senior Partners who each have Jon Coles (Chair)
responsibility for developing the programmes and Arwel Jones
Fergus Simpson Memberships Manager activities of Challenge Partners. Each Leadership Team Chris Davison
fergus.simpson@challengepartners.org member is appointed a specific area of responsibility Dame Yasmin Bevan
which they develop, monitor and ensure remains Dame Vicki Paterson
Jim Riddiford Head of Programmes in keeping with the partnership’s founding principles. Gary Handforth
jim.riddiford@challengepartners.org Maxine Low
The group meets regularly and is chaired by our Nick Pasricha
Emma Selinger Programme Lead – QA Review Executive Director, Dame Sue John. The Leadership
emma.selinger@challengepartners.org Team accounts to the Senior Partners on a termly
basis and each Senior Partner has the opportunity
Grace Hiorns Programme Coordinator – QA Review wto provide feedback and input during the Senior
grace.hiorns@challengepartners.org Partner and Hub Manager meetings.
17 CHALLENGE PARTNERS Go to Guide 2018–19 18Hub Managers’ Toolkit
As a Hub Manager, you are essential to the effective HUB MANAGEMENT
running of your hub. We understand that this is a Initial practice
broad role from advising on the strategic direction of • Schedule and facilitate meetings of hub schools
the hub, through to the operational management and • Implement and monitor progress of the Hub Action
delivery of meetings and activities. We have worked Plan and associated activities; including claiming hub
with Hub Managers to identify some characteristics of funding to resource these planned activities
effective hub management and will work with you
throughout the year to capture, develop and share Recommended practice
effective practice from across the hubs. Before hub meetings
• Use the suggested agenda document to help you
create the hub meeting agenda. This document can
An overview of the be accessed at tinyurl.com/hubmeetingagenda
• Discuss your hub meeting agenda with the Challenge
Hub Manager’s role Partners Central Team to ensure any national updates
and event opportunities are included
HUB DEVELOPMENT • Check the Hub Dashboard for upcoming QA Reviews
Initial practice in the hub and reviewer attendance to see if schools
• Ensure the development of a common ethos are meeting their reviewer commitments
and protocols for partnership working and develop
Terms of Reference for the hub. Example Terms of During hub meetings
Reference can be found on the Challenge Partners Hubs should have at least one meeting per term and CHALLENGE AND SUPPORT TO HUB SCHOOLS • Advertise regional/national events to build stronger
website at tinyurl.com/cptermsofreference often encourage other schools in the hub to host the Initial practice bonds with other partner schools.
• Induct all new member schools so that they meetings to help them get to know each other. You • Ensure all hub schools host a QA Review
understand the membership offer and benefits should have Terms of Reference for your hub and there • Have a process in place for hub schools to reflect Recommended practice
•C ollaboratively develop a Hub Action Plan, using may be a few items of standing agenda for example: on their QA Review and learn from experiences • Ensure that all schools in the hub are on the weekly
information from the Hub Dashboard, which lays across the hub email mailing list, and that they receive and read the
out the vision, priorities and activities for the • Temperature check – concerns, areas schools are • Support hub schools to identify where they can draw weekly email
hub to enable all schools in the hub to improve excited about, long-term and immediate priorities on expertise within the hub. Or provide the Central • Highlight areas of particular relevance or interest
•D etermine how hub funding will be used to • QA Review feedback – it is essential that schools Team with information so that the wider partnership to hub schools in the Challenge Partners weekly email
subsidise the hub activities share outcomes and insights from recent QA can support the school to address their Even Better • Encourage participation in national special interest
Reviews, discuss support schools may be looking for Ifs (EBIs) groups or projects
Recommended practice and see what schools can offer locally. It is important
•V
isit new hub schools and discuss their context that all schools are aware of each other’s Areas of Recommended practice INFORMING THE NATIONAL DIRECTION
and how the hub and wider partnership can support Excellence too • Support hub schools to develop their QA Review OF CHALLENGE PARTNERS
them during the year • QA reviewer commitments - discuss this with schools timetable and focus if required Initial practice
•R
eview the Hub Dashboard and use your knowledge and ensure all schools are on track to meet their • Attend the final QA Review meeting to discuss what •A ttend Hub Manager meetings to work
of the local landscape to support the identification commitment to send reviewers out to other schools support the hub can provide or how the hub school collaboratively on common challenges and provide
of priorities • Best practice sharing could share their confirmed Area of Excellence local knowledge to inform national activities
•R
egularly review the hub priorities at hub • Working on common challenges (where there is one)
meetings to discuss any updates required or • Review the Hub Action Plan • Co-ordinate and monitor support across the hub Recommended practice
changes to activities planned • Updates on events and activities both locally • Ensure all schools are meeting their QA reviewer •B ring forward examples of excellent practice to
•R
eview the impact of hub activities in addressing and nationally commitment to send out reviewers to other schools share with colleagues
the priorities – refine activities as appropriate and have a process in place to share feedback from • Identify potential areas for future Hub Managers
•D
iscuss with the Central Team and other hubs the After Hub meetings these experiences. meeting agendas where a collective response or
activities planned and delivered – sharing best • Send through the attendee list and any feedback collaborative approach with other Hub Managers
practice and learning from others from hub schools to the Central Team COMMUNICATIONS would be helpful
• Ensure your Senior Partner follows up directly Initial practice •S elf-identify for a Hub Review to feed into the wider
with schools that do not attend meetings, or ask • Share the Challenge Partners weekly email with your strategy on hubs
your dedicated Memberships Manager to do this hub schools and top and tail it with any other
on your behalf information you think is relevant to your hub locally
19 CHALLENGE PARTNERS Go to Guide 2018–19 20Case Study: Torbay Hub growth
Hub history Introductory event
Torbay Hub was set up in 2016/17 with three This was held in January, ahead of the new
primary schools in Torbay and with Sherwell membership year that starts on 1st April each year.
Valley Primary School as the hub lead school, The Memberships Manager from the Central Team
with headteacher Jonathan Gower as the Senior attended to present on membership and answer
Partner and deputy headteacher, Jeremy Kingston questions. Current hub members gave accounts
as the Hub Manager. The schools in the hub shared of their experiences of the QA Review.
a common purpose in sharing best practice and
improving standards in all schools. Many of the headteachers who attended the event
were already sufficiently informed and engaged to
Hub growth be in a position to sign up for membership at
Part way through the first year of the hub’s the end of the event. The informal conversations
existence, the future of the hub was considered that were held before the event proved crucial
and the decision was made to grow the hub in in equipping headteachers to make an
order to widen the opportunities for local informed decision.
collaboration and secure the future of the hub.
This was done by approaching schools in the Induction
local Torbay area. Once signed up for membership, each headteacher
received a local and national induction and support
Ground work from the Central Team at hub meetings to ensure
Jonathan and Jeremy spoke to local headteachers they could make the most of their membership.
and discussed Challenge Partners and the Network
of Excellence, and the benefits membership could Second year of the hub
provide to their school. The key to engaging 2017/18 was a successful second year for the hub
others was word of mouth recommendations with 8 member schools in place. The hub agreed
and the reputation of Challenge Partners locally. to focus on mastery, challenge, feedback and
This proved far more successful than cold middle leadership through planned activities on the
approaches to schools elsewhere. Hub Action Plan. All member schools renewed their
membership for the coming year. A hub-led event
All of the schools in the Torbay Association was planned for the summer term to explore the
of Primary Heads were contacted and the use and effectiveness of Teaching Assistants with
headteachers were invited to attend an all hub member schools involved.
introductory event which was hosted at Sherwell
Valley School; the dedicated Memberships Manager
in the Central Team supported with administering
invitations and attendance for the event.
21 CHALLENGE PARTNERS Go to Guide 2018–19 22THE HUB ACTION PLAN Each term, a hub-led events fund of up to £5,000 THE DOS AND DON’TS OF INTRODUCTORY EVENTS
The Hub Action Plan is a key element of developing a is available for you to draw on to subsidise an event Do
strong hub that has a clear set of priorities to work on you wish to run. Challenge Partners may fund up to • Prepare for the event in advance; work with your
during the year that will help the hub move towards 50% of the cost of your event provided that you are dedicated Memberships Manager to set a date,
their vision for the local partnership. able to reserve at least 25% of places for Challenge confirm the invitation list and familiarise yourself with
Partners member schools outside of your hub. the PowerPoint slides sent to you prior to the event
The Action Plan will need to identify and document A timeline of the application process is provided • Allow sufficient notice for the event – six weeks from
the priorities that your hub will be working on across earlier in the Go to Guide. sending the invitations out to the event itself is ideal
the year. You can then link your hub activities to these • Ensure that all involved are clear on their roles and
priorities and you will be able to claim against your Host schools are responsible for running and the remit for the meeting
hub funding budget to subsidise these activities. organising the event, please read through the roles • Plan the location of the meeting according to the
You will need to be able to demonstrate how your and responsibilities and ensure that you have the number of attendees and ensure refreshments are
hub funding is being used to address your hub capacity to run your proposed event before available e.g. if it is a small group, a meeting room
priorities for the funding to be released. proceeding with a bid. may be better than the school hall
• Ensure all headteachers/SLT are made to feel
You will also be expected to report back on the impact The Challenge Partners Central Team can support welcome and make time for introductions and
of activities undertaken to address the priorities in the you to create relevant marketing material to distribute a short overview of the priorities for each school
Hub Action Plan. to the partnership. • Make time to ask the headteachers questions; it is
as important for you to find out if the schools will
HUB FUNDING What information do I give to my schools? be a good fit for your hub, as it is for them to find
What information do I give my schools? • Identify a theme or area that would benefit out if the Challenge Partners model is right for them
Let schools know how much hub funding is available from an event • If you also run a Teaching School, make sure you
as early on in the term as possible. In a hub meeting, • Discuss with your hub if you’d like to run a focus on the hub offer, rather than the Teaching
discuss the hub priorities in your Hub Action Plan and national event and consider what the objective School offer
how hub funding might be used to subsidise activities of the day would be • Ask a headteacher from your hub to attend in
to address these priorities. • Have a look at the criteria and decide when order to share their experiences. Encourage the
you’d like to hold it headteacher to use anecdotes and discuss the
Hub funding may be used to cover the costs of • Review the full guidance and apply for funding impact of learning from the QA Review and other
external suppliers or providers and any expenses using the application form in accordance with •D ecide as a hub how you will share the reports aspects of membership; this will give prospective
incurred by providers and delegates, including supply the timeline provided earlier in the Go to Guide and how these will inform your Hub Action Plan members a more impartial view of what Challenge
cover costs, but cannot be used to reimburse schools •A ttend the briefing session at the end of the QA Partners membership entails
for incentivising staff participation. How to support schools with their QA Review Review at every school in your hub or if you are • Where possible, coordinate your introductory event
The QA Review is a professionally-led peer review unable to attend, follow up with a call to the school to take place before a hub meeting. Offer attendees
Hub funding should be used on activities that can with the review teams made up of outstanding •M ake sure that all schools in your hub are aware of the option of remaining for the hub meeting
be assessed for their impact. practitioners from Challenge Partners schools. All each other’s Areas of Excellence, What Went Wells • Tailor the event to the audience e.g. don’t talk
your hub schools are given the opportunity to receive (WWWs) and Even Better Ifs (EBIs) about the secondary offer if the audience is entirely
How do we claim it? a review during each membership year. The review •S upport schools to follow up on their support primary headteachers
1. Once you have submitted your Hub Action Plan offers a helpful audit by assessing the school’s self- requests locally from within the hub and where
and meeting dates, we will send you a link to the evaluation and is also a high quality CPD experience that is not possible, encourage them to look on Don’t
hub funding claim form for peer reviewers that make up the review team. the School Support Directory or contact the • ...assume attendees have prior knowledge
2. Complete and submit the online claim form Central Team for further support of Challenge Partners or the local hub
3. Submit your invoice for the hub funding amount Please support schools by making sure you • If a reviewer from your hub is not able to attend • ...talk about Ofsted judgements; remember the
to finance@challengepartners.org, copying in do the following: a QA Review, aim to find a replacement from emphasis should be on collaboration and support
two headteachers from your hub and your Central • At your first hub meeting please run through within your hub • ...talk in terms of your academy trust or Teaching
Team contact. the ‘Overview to the QA Review’ slides. You can School; instead focus on the role of the local hub
HUB-LED EVENTS
find these at tinyurl.com/QARoverview
• Encourage all schools to read the QA Review
How to grow your hub in school improvement
• ...talk about cost without discussing the value
Running an event handbook (a new version for 2018/19 will be available You might be thinking about reaching out to more of Challenge Partners membership
Challenge Partners provides funding to hubs that in the members’ area of the website from the end of schools locally in order to grow your hub. The growth • ...overrun - an hour to an hour and a half is
design and run events which reach out to the rest of April) which guides schools on what to expect from of the Network of Excellence to date has been organic usually the maximum amount of time necessary
the partnership. Proposed events can range from CPD their QA Review and how the process works. The and largely through word of mouth and reputation. for a successful introductory event
sessions to holding a full day conference. The aim is to handbook can be found at tinyurl.com/QARhandbook. We are happy to support you in this and to work
support events which closely connect with both local • Ensure that the QA Review is a standing item with you to develop your hub. Here are some handy
and national issues and help your hub in its work. on the hub meeting agenda suggestions if you are considering holding a local
introductory event, and case studies to illustrate
how other hubs have grown.
23 CHALLENGE PARTNERS Go to Guide 2018–19 24Case Study: Cheam introductory event
Hub History However, it is important to note that a projector is
Cheam Hub was formed in 2016/17 by the LEO required for the Challenge Partners presentation.
Academy Trust and consisted of the four Trust
schools, with Executive Headteacher and CEO, Attendees were offered refreshments on arrival,
Phillip Hedger as Senior Partner. Director of and time was allocated to introductions. The
Teaching, Learning and Assessment, Malinda Memberships Manager asked each guest to
Young, took on the role of Hub Manager. introduce themselves and explain a little bit about
what they hoped to gain from the event.
Hub Growth This allowed us to tailor the event to meet the
After two years as a successful small hub and keen needs of the guests, as well as making sure that
to collaborate with schools outside of the Trust, attendees felt properly welcomed.
Cheam Hub offered to host an introductory event
at the lead school, Cheam Common Junior An overview of the Network of Excellence was
Academy, in late February 2018. given by one of the Memberships Managers, who
shared the Network of Excellence’s local and
Ground work national offer. This was developed further by
The Memberships Manager in the Central Team Phillip and Malinda, who explained the offer
worked closely with Phillip and Malinda to compile and role of the local hub in greater depth.
a list of local primary schools to invite to the Phillip, Malinda and the Memberships Manager
event. The Memberships Team supported with answered various questions that arose during the
logistical arrangements for the event, such as meeting, addressing queries on hub funding, other
sending invitations and logging attendance. Challenge Partners programmes and Leadership
Regular communication between the Memberships Development Days.
Team, and Phillip and Malinda ensured that the
event was prepared well in advance. Discussion throughout the event was tailored to
the interests and needs of the schools attending.
The introductory event This enabled Phillip, Malinda, and the attendees
Prior to the arrival of prospective hub members, to begin to establish an idea of what a working
the administrative team at Cheam Park Farm relationship between the schools could look like.
were informed of the schools attending, as well
as the location of the meeting. This prevented any Time was given at the end to questions, although
confusion or delays, and attendees were therefore many were answered during the course of the
brought promptly through to the meeting room. presentation. The Challenge Partners Memberships
Philip and Malinda were on hand before the Manager then tied up the event and explained the
meeting to go over the final plan for the event timeline for signing up to the Network.
with the Memberships Managers and to
welcome attendees. Follow up after the event
Following the event, the Memberships Manager
The location was planned in accordance with the emailed all schools that attended and supported
expected number of attendees. As a relatively small them with the next steps for joining Challenge
number of schools were expected, the meeting was Partners.
held in Phillip’s office, rather than a larger meeting
room or classroom. This gave the meeting a more Schools that were unable to attend on the day
informal feel, and allowed all attendees to sit were offered an introductory phone call with a
around one table. As many headteachers will member of the Central Team instead.
be familiar with others in the local area, a more
intimate meeting style often works well.
25 CHALLENGE PARTNERS Go to Guide 2018–19 26You can also read
