Executive group research

Research and development for self-improvement

Meeting the challenges of providing education in an increasingly complex and technological society requires the constant development of skills, attitudes and ways of working. In the last eighteen months, SEF has become involved in several initiatives to underpin research-based practice in teaching and in leadership and management. Strong links with university partners mean that we are well-placed to make great strides through collaboration with each other and with external partners. Information on some of our initiatives can be found below, but watch this space for new initiatives.

Peer-to-peer reviews

Our approach to developing a self-improving schools' system

The nature of development and improvement in schools and colleges is changing. There is no longer the funding available for significant numbers to partake in conferences and/or courses, with resulting possible limited impact on individual departments, schools and colleges.

Further, the evolving role of the Local Authority has required that schools and colleges work in different, more innovative, ways to achieve school/college improvement. In addition, the fluid political landscape means that some schools and colleges could become isolated if not part of a multi-academy trust or some other collaborative structure. Finally, there is a shared aspiration for Southampton schools and colleges to all be at least 'Good', as designated by Ofsted.

To mitigate for some of the changes arising from this political contact, the SEF Executive has developed a City-wide, Peer-to-Peer Review (P2P) programme. The programme provides opportunity for senior leaders to act as consultants and engage in robust and challenging conversations about self-identified issues in each others' schools and colleges. While being challenging and robust, the process is both confidential and supportive. Guided and framed by agreed protocols, the Review programme has the potential to bring about transformational change in Southampton schools and colleges.