What are new models and partnerships?
The way schools are led and managed is changing. The types of school leaders and governing bodies that exist today are far more diverse than they once were; what is more, they will continue to develop. This article examines current and emerging models of leadership and defines their structures.
Leadership change
Local management of schools was introduced in the late 1980s and during the past decade policy has focused on increasing diversity and encouraging the development of different types of leadership. There is also recognition that schools must collaborate to achieve greater choice and more joined-up outcomes for children. School leaders must form partnerships and find ways to align their schools’ activities with those of other schools and agencies.
Many schools have responded to these challenges by redesigning their leadership and governance approaches to make them more fit for purpose, collaborative and/or sustainable. This website includes examples from some of these innovations as well as practical resources to help you think how you might best respond to the challenges your school faces.
The need for new thinking
School leaders are increasingly being asked to work strategically – and often collaboratively – in order to respond to a wide range of local priorities and national policy initiatives. Yet school leadership capacity is already stretched and work-life balance a real issue for many heads. Moreover, there is a leadership succession challenge currently facing the system. This challenge is primarily demographic, but is compounded by poor perceptions of headship among aspirant school leaders.
Different models of leadership can be explored and developed to find solutions to existing challenges and to plan for future effectiveness.
Types of models and partnerships
Single schools
This is the most common model, with one headteacher, one school and one governing body. Even this model, however, is no longer straightforward. For example, developments include: establishing a job share for two or more headteachers or the creation of co-leadership that involves staff without qualified teacher status joining the leadership team.
Academies
Academies are state-funded but independently run schools.
Free schools
These are schools with academy status, set up and run by interested parties such as parents and teachers.
Federations
A federation has a single governing body for all the schools and partners within the federation. This may be two or more schools. They may consist of either primary or secondary schools or, if an all-through federation, include both. The same principles also apply in a three-tier system.
Find out more about federations and other models by listening to two of our expert associates talking about their experience of school governance in schools developing new models.
A study of the impact of school federation on student outcomes - research by the University of Manchester.
Ofsted has also published a related report on ‘Leadership of more than one school’, which looks at the impact of federation in 61 schools across 29 federations.
Collaborations and partnerships
Collaborations describe schools and organisations that choose to join forces but maintain separate governing bodies. Partnerships are less formal arrangements which may involve other non-education partners.
Mixed federations, collaborations and partnerships
These types of leadership structures involve schools that are part of a federation, as well as part of a wider collaboration or partnership. Leadership in such groupings is unlikely to be vested in a single headteacher, but may incorporate a variety of leadership models. Where relevant, school leaders can use both sets of regulations in harmony to suit local needs.
Trusts
A trust school is a state-funded foundation school supported by a charitable trust made up of the school and partners (such as businesses,universities or community groups).
Chains of schools
Chains of schools are groups of schools run by the same sponsor or trust as part of an overarching governance arrangement.
- For further information see: Chain reactions: a thinkpiece on the development of chains of schools in the English school system
School companies
Increasingly schools and academies are creating limited companies to help work in partnership and deliver local services together.
- For further information see our publication Partnership working through a school company
Co-location
This is where a school or children’s centre shares its site with a school of a different type or with another service and where there is a strong link across governance, leadership and management.
Local authority initiatives
Local authorities are increasingly developing a proactive and supportive approach to emerging models of leadership. Like schools, local authorities may be considering models of leadership in response to a wide range of stimuli.
Ideas to help you think about your model of leadership
There is no ‘right’ way to structure a school’s leadership and governance arrangements. It is for leaders and governors to work with stakeholders to shape the right approach for their context, drawing on guidance about what is possible and learning from other schools.
One way of finding out more about the right approach for you is to explore the other articles, case studies and resources within this section of the website. You could also apply for our free, individually tailored support service if you are considering a new or different model of school organisation or partnership. Find out more about this service.
RSS
Print version
Email to a friend
Sign up to receive our newsletter
Share with...