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Putting pupils first; resource sharing for the common good

Case study

Ladybridge High School and Rumworth Special School are capitalising on the unforeseen advantages of co-location and accept a moral responsibility for each other’s pupils.

Key learning

Much of the early success of this project stems from the close working relationship and similarity of outlook of the two headteachers. The two schools cater for different clienteles so co-operation is not inhibited by any sense of competition. However, there is sufficient similarity between the issues each faces to ensure that collaboration is worthwhile.

Background

Bolton Local Authority’s need to create more special school places has brought unexpected benefits for the school with which the special school shares a site, thanks to the willingness of two headteachers to seize the opportunities offered by co-location.

Ladybridge High School is a specialist sports college, catering for 780 pupils aged 11-16. It has been designated by Ofsted as an outstanding school and is in federation with other local secondarys. Rumworth is a Leading Edge school and has specialist school status in communications. It caters for 178 children aged 11-19 who have moderate and severe learning difficulties and disabilities. It too has been designated as outstanding by Ofsted. In placing the two together on the site of a former comprehensive the authority had no plans for the close professional connections that now exist. There is no formal collaboration arrangement between Ladybridge and Rumworth but each has strong collaborative relationships with other schools.

Key challenges

Finding common ground

At first sight, the two schools appear to have insufficient in common for collaboration to be worth pursuing.

Making best use of available resource

The division between special and mainstream schooling is not rigid and there are potential benefits to each from working together. The two headteachers wanted to make more use of the physical resources and expertise available within each school, for example, almost 25 per cent of Ladybridge’s pupils have special educational needs.

Solutions

Finding shared interests

A focus on developing teaching and learning opportunities for young people enabled the schools to find common ground. Other areas of commonalty include approaches to quality assurance.

Joint appointments

A lead practitioner has been appointed to address the specific literacy needs of targeted pupils in both schools. This person spends two days a week at Rumworth and three days at Ladybridge.

Matching need with resources

Both schools use the training rooms Rumworth has as part of its Leading Edge facility. In return Ladybridge gave up some land to enable Rumworth to improve outdoor provision for its pupils.

Next steps

The two schools are now planning a joint Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project. They want to develop a learning partnership and make a broader and more integrated offer for local children and their families. This would also make good use of the local authority music centre on the same site.

Further information

For further information contact Rumworth Special School by email at head@rumworth.bolton.sch.uk.