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Schools learning from their best: the within-school variation (WSV) project

Variations between schools, teachers within schools and students from different backgrounds still remain despite various efforts. This report focuses on what a school can do to learn from itself, looking at the their own best people and practices rather than being encouraged to follow central guidance, policy or advice.

The report begins by looking at the extent of within school variation, the causes of it, and the issues in addressing it. Following examination of the data, a project was set up by the Department of Education and the National College to find a way to tackle the problem.

The project

The project lasted for three years and involved two groups of schools. The first was a network of schools that were mostly high achieving, with extremely able headteachers. The second group were in challenging circumstances with a more disadvantaged intake, fractured leadership, high levels of staff turnover and poor results. The schools met via steering groups and project meetings to share advice and expertise with each other, giving examples of what they had found worked and what didn't. Although the project started slowly, by the third year the results became much more positive.

Project levers

Using the case studies written by the schools involved, the author of the report has been able to draw out what worked well during the project so that other schools can benefit. These are split into six areas of activity:

• school ethos and culture
• data usage
• teaching and learning
• middle management training
• pupil voice
• standard operating procedures