System leaders
System leaders are people who work with schools outside of their own to bring about improvement. The schools could be under-performing or have a specific issue and require additional support. schools can choose to have a central role in developing a self-improving and sustainable school-led system. Growing the number of system leaders is one way they intend to reach this goal.
Each system leader would be commissioned and/or deployed by The Local Authority, Teaching School Hubs, Academy Trusts or Diocese’.
System leaders:
- Have a min. of 3 years experience of improving a school at headship level
- Are supportive of their peers but are not afraid to challenge
- Are happy in the role of LIO or task group chair
The LA will support System Leaders:
- With CPD through Warwickshire Primary Partnership
- Through access to key information and data about the school they are supporting
- by being available to offer advice and guidance
System Leadership within Warwickshire
The DFE document Schools Causing Concern Support and intervention in schools statutory guidance is clear on the Role of the Local Authority. Their role is to have the overview of the performance of all schools in the Local Authority and ensure all Warwickshire children are educated in a good or better school. In understanding the performance of schools they can then work with partners to ensure appropriate and targeted support is in place and will have impact.
Beyond this statutory guidance, local authorities have considerable freedom as to how they deliver their statutory responsibilities. Local authorities should act as champions of high standards of education across their schools, and in doing so should:
- Understand the performance of maintained schools in their area, using data as a starting point to identify any that are underperforming, while working with them to explore ways to support progress.
- Work closely with the relevant RSC, diocese and other local partners to ensure schools receive the support they need to improve.
- Where underperformance has been recognised in a maintained school, proactively work with the relevant RSC, combining local and regional expertise to ensure the right approach, including sending warning notices and using intervention powers where this will improve leadership and standards; and
- Encourage good and outstanding maintained schools to take responsibility for their own improvement; support other schools; and enable other schools to access the support they need to improve.
Maintained Schools who are risk assessed as needing support will then be entitled to a range of support from their consortia, the LA and external partners such as Finance, HR, Governor Services and School Improvement Professionals.
As Warwickshire has a moral obligation to ensure all of our children are entitled to a good or better education, Academies causing concern will then be discussed and raised with the RSC.
