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Date: 10 Mar 2010
Address: http://www.nationalcollege.org.uk/index/professional-development/sips

School Improvement Partners Accreditation Programme

The National College is responsible for the accreditation of school improvement partners (SIPs) on behalf of the National Strategies.

School improvement partners provide professional challenge and support to the school, helping its leadership team evaluate its performance, identify priorities for improvement and plan effective change.

Since the launch of the programme in 2005 we have accredited approximately 1500 secondary SIPs, 3000 primary SIPs and 400 special school SIPs. There are currently a large number of SIPs on the register who are available for work in local authorities. In the light of this, the current programme will end in March 2010.

The future of the SIPs Programme

As part of the recent white paper, Your child, your school, our future: building a 21st century schools system, the DCSF set out its vision for the role of the School Improvement Partner (SIP).  

The DCSF is enhancing the current SIP model and has asked us to:

  • review and develop the accreditation process for SIPs to take account of their expanded role and provide or commission better, more consistent training and support including guidance on multi-agency working and on special educational needs (SEN) and disability. Over time, all existing SIPs will be required to be re-accredited to ensure they have the necessary skills
  • undertake quality assurance of SIPs, providing SIPs with an ongoing 'licence to practise'
  • hold a national register of SIPs that shows which SIPs are best suited to working with particular types of school (eg poorly performing, outstanding, coasting, clusters etc)

Take part in the consultation

We are undertaking a joint consultation with the DCSF on the new role for SIPs, beginning on 11 January 2010. The consultation will seek the views of key stakeholders on the implementation of the DCSF’s vision for the role of SIPs as outlined by the white paper and the associated accreditation programme and will involve:

Your views are vital to the development of the SIP role and we very much hope that you can join with other stakeholders to give us your feedback.

Next application round

The application rounds for secondary, special and primary SIPs are now closed.

There will be further opportunities to apply to become a SIP and undertake the newly designed accreditation programme in 2011. All queries should be referred to sips@nationalcollege.org.uk.