Interim management and supporting the procurement process of an external provider.

You have done an excellent job in rescuing the situation at Bradford.

Lestyn Williams Executive Director, Serco

Background

We were first approached by the DfES to review the Ofsted Report issued in May 2000. It was agreed that the preliminary work would be extended to encompass interim management and supporting the procurement process of an external provider. This led eventually to a £360m contract being awarded for the provision of education services.

Our team

As part of the interim management we recruited a team of key consultants including:

• Les Walton OBE
• Brian Oglethorpe
• David Kershaw (serving headteacher)
• Kevin McAleese C.B.E. (serving headteacher)
• Ian Philp (serving headteacher)

as well as headteachers within Bradford.

Strategy Groups were also established which composed of serving heads, governors, LA officers and consultants. These strategy groups focused on achievement, finance and inclusion. Other specialists were brought in as and when necessary. This wider team included Noreen Bucking, (Special Schools) and ICT experts.

Groundbreaking work

Les Walton announced that he was developing a “New Relationship with Schools”. The establishment of the Secondary Support Team, based on the work which gained Beacon Status for North Tyneside Council, laid the foundation for the future development of the role of School Improvement Partner.

Serco QAA, using the trading name of Education Bradford, awarded the contract to deliver education services within Bradford. Northern Education was then contracted to continue to provide support for secondary school improvement within the District.

Our expertise knowledge and skills

We constructed a team consisting of the most highly regarded school improvement professionals within the UK. They were know as The Secondary Support Team

The Secondary Support Team which would replace the Inspection and Advisory Team also included:

• Performance analysis capacity
• School Improvement Officers
• An intervention team (multi-professional team), drawn from Serco staff and from “best practice” Bradford headteachers and senior managers.

The contact also required the Secondary Support Team to cover the statutory responsibilities of Bradford. The consultants were required to have knowledge of data management systems, effective self evaluation frameworks, national school improvement initiatives and school development planning etc.

We also established our own training programme, involving:

• Professor Chris Husbands of Warwick University (intervention strategies)
• Dr Bill Dennison (North Leadership Centre)
• Dave Snaith (Middlesborough LA (New Ofsted framework)

Performance Management was managed by Senior Associate Brian Oglethorpe, and also involved Bradford secondary head teachers in the reviews.

The contract was for three years but our secondary support work in Bradford eventually covered five years. We were able to maintain a stable and cohesive team throughout the five years.

We continue to support Education Bradford.

What they thought

Ofsted, HMI and headteachers have all complimented our work.

HMI/OFSTED reports from several schools (Bradford Cathedral (twice); Buttershaw; Immanuel; Nab Wood; Rhodesway; Wyke) make specific reference to the sensitive, effective and challenging support given by our Secondary Support Team.

In addition, senior DfES officials, our performance manager and SERCO Management Consultants who have interviewed secondary heads have all reported that our Secondary Support Team’s work is appreciated and highly valued.