Exmoor Coast Federation: collaboration across small rural first and middle schools

Case study

A unique approach to leadership support across five very small rural first schools, one large first school and a large middle school. An excellent example of innovative leadership in a large family of schools.

Key learning and outcomes

This is a partnership approach. Despite the difference in school size, each school is considered to be an equal.
The executive head role is advisory and supportive rather than hierarchical. It serves the collaboration rather than leads it. Each school values the collaboration and the professional support it provides each headteacher.
The collaboration enables community and voluntary aided (VA) schools to participate on an equal footing.
The executive committee operates at a very strategic, cross-school level.
The collaboration has been able to organise continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities and support between schools which would not otherwise have been possible.

Background

The Exmoor Coast Federation is centred around Minehead on the Somerset coast and includes five very small rural first schools, one large first school and a large middle school. Each school retains its individual governing body. The federation has an executive committee and a rotating executive head.

The federation consists of Cutcombe First School, Dunster First School, St Dubricius’ First School, St Michael’s First School, Timberscombe First School, Minehead First School (from September 2009) and Minehead Middle School.

Key challenges

Funding for the executive headship

Funding for the executive headship allows one day per week release plus some administration time. This may be insufficient if the activities continue to develop and grow.

Duration of the executive headship

The executive headship is planned to rotate annually but the possibility of the rotation happening every two years to cope with longer programmes is being considered.

Relationships

The headteachers work well together. If any of them were to leave, the relationship should be undermined.

Succession planning

Only two of the first schools is big enough to allow for the appointment of a deputy headteacher and a number of the schools have teaching headteachers. The federation needs to consider how to grow and attract quality leadership over time.

Solutions

Growth of the collaboration

A further large first school in Minehead has recently joined the collaboration. This means that the collaboration now includes all local schools. The integration of this new member will be important to the future direction of the group.

Status of the collaboration

The group will need to keep the status of the collaboration under review and may need to explore more formal partnership options over time.

Next steps

The collaboration is likely to continue in its current form for some time, although there is a determination to ensure that the collaboration continues to develop. A new executive head will take up the post in September 2009.

Further information

For further information about the Exmoor Coast Federation, contact Paul Rushforth, Headteacher, Minehead Middle School, by email: pzrushforth@educ.somerset.gov.uk.