School Improvement Partnerships for Equity and Change: A case of balancing science and artistry

Christopher Chapman

Director, Robert Owen Centre for Educational ChangeCo-Director, ESRC/Scot Gov What Works Scotland CentreDirector of Research, School of Education

Creating a more equitable education system

•Context- understanding and learning from similarities and difference Art of:

•Change and Improvement- diverse and rigorous methods

•Collaboration- rethinking roles and responsibilities

•Capacity Building- leadership and expertise

•Cohesion- connecting across policy initiatives

SIPP and system change

How important is context?

SIPP change and improvement

You are moving SIPP beyond these two distinct traditions…

•More nuanced approach incorporating strengths from both

•matched to specific needs and contextual conditions

•Involves having a repertoire of approaches and methods at your disposal, including:

Collaborative Enquiry Improvement Science Instructional Rounds Lesson study

Lesson Study Cycle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g48DAG4hJd4 (Process 5.28) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV35Nr0DKFs (Primary 2.41)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EjljMOrrKI (Middle 4.33) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tr0ZLxcHBc (Power 2.16)

SIPP change and improvement

Robinson, V., Hohepa, M. and Lloyd, C. (2009), School Leadership and Student Outcomes: Identifying What Works and Why: Best Evidence Synthesis Iteration, Wellington: New Zealand Ministry of Education.

The impact of leadership activities on student outcomes

SIPP change and improvement

SIPP and collaboration

Local Authorities

HEIs

Schools

Other stakeholders

Collaboration for within-school improvement

Collaboration for between- school improvement

Collaboration for beyond- school improvement

•Challenging assumptions and beliefs

•Changing behaviours and practice

•Developing expertise within the system

•Moving existing knowledge and generating new knowledge- accessing existing reservoirs and creating new ones!

•Making connections to un-tap this potential

SIPP and capacity building

Providing a context to create coherence with a range of policy initiatives including:

•CfE

•GIRFEC

•Pathfinder and Raising Attainment

•Potentially with CPPs and new What Works Centre…

•Future public sector developments?

SIPP and system cohesion

•Context- understanding and learning from similarities and difference Art of:

•Change and Improvement- diverse and rigorous methods

•Collaboration- rethinking roles and responsibilities

•Capacity Building- leadership and expertise

•Cohesion- connecting across policy initiatives

SIPP summary