Tarun KapurThe Dean Trust multi-academy trust consists of five secondary schools and four primaries. It is led by secondary Ashton on Mersey school. It operates across four local authority areas in the north west - Knowsley, Trafford, Manchester and Wigan. One of its schools, a free school in Manchester,
Bradley Stoke Community School serves the south Gloucestershire town of Bradley Stoke. The School - part of Olympus Academy Trust - caters for 1,200 11-18 pupils, predominantly from middle class white British backgrounds. It also has a new primary phase with reception and Year 1 children and will be an all-through School once the primary children progress to Year 6.
Sara Harper is headteacher at Beechwood Primary School, a 400-pupil School in in Crewe, Cheshire. She became headteacher in September 2016 after five years as deputy head. The School serves an area of high deprivation, with 41 per cent of pupils attracting pupil premium funding.
This case study focuses on a new secondary school Headteacher, Andy. A vacancy for a headship at a Catholic school became available in the community Andy was brought up in and this was an opportunity he felt he could not miss as he was strongly motivated to lead a Catholic school.
Michelle Parkes, Director of Teaching School, Hebden Green School, CheshireTeaching School director Michelle Parkes describes the role of effective communications policies and systems in ensuring a shared vision and a culture of self-improvement and mutual support across a partnership of Schools.
Jon Wright, CEO of Omega multi-academy trustJon Wright began his career as a modern languages teacher, eventually becoming deputy headteacher in a socially deprived school in Blackpool. His first headship was at Central Lancaster High school, which he brought out of category and deficit and led to outstanding within six years.
Ros McMullen, principal, David Young Community Academy, Leeds.
Ros McMullen is principal of the David Young Academy in Leeds which replaced two failing schools. The academy is the most deprived secondary school in the city but is very successful and Ros states that effective governance has been a key contributor to this success.
Deputy headteacher, Primary, NorfolkIntroductionJennifer (not her real name) is deputy headteacher of a one form entry primary school serving a small rural community on the Norfolk coast. She joined the school in 2012 as an early year foundation stage teacher. She progressed to the role of maths lead in 2015 and was appointed deputy headteacher in early 2017.
Alison has been headteacher at an outstanding 2-19 residential special school in the north west for children with complex medical needs and profound and multiple learning difficulties for six years. She has recently been seconded to a nearby outstanding 11-16 special school for children with moderate learning difficulties, where she is interim headteacher.
David (not his real name) is principal of a 1,650 pupil high school in Cheshire. The school, rated outstanding, became a founding member of a multi-academy trust in 2017.
This thinkpiece explores school-to-school collaboration, the challenges it currently faces and the characteristics displayed in effective approaches to collaboration.
