School improvement
Driving up standards
The Stronger Management Systems and Stronger Governance Systems
programmes support schools to drive whole-school improvement
T
HE NATIONAL Strategies developed their current practice. Every quality standard is
the Stronger Management Systems accompanied by exemplifi cation and linked CPD
(SMS) programme in 2008 in response materials and activities to assist school leaders to
to a recognised and growing need in improve practice.
secondary schools for support to secure eff ective Th ey are not expected to work their way
management systems and processes. through every section of the materials. Rather,
Th e SMS programme is designed to show how schools are encouraged to focus on only those
leaders and managers at all levels have an important aspects applicable to their needs and use the
role to play in raising standards. materials to support them to improve their
It focuses on practical and essential elements specifi c management systems and processes.
of management and provides materials to help Frances Soul, programme director, secondary
schools review, refocus and improve their systems school improvement, at the National Strategies,
and structures. said that feedback to SMS has so far been
Schools need to have strong and consistent “overwhelmingly positive”.
management in place for line management, whole- Th e National Strategies has also produced
school teaching and learning, pupil tracking, and Stronger Governance Systems (SGS), a shorter
monitoring and evaluation. Th is is where SMS comes publication which is similar to SMS but aimed
in. It has already proved highly successful in schools specifi cally at school governors.
supported by the National Challenge and is currently A professional development booklet, SGS
showing impact in a wider range of schools. aims to help school governors improve the
Th e materials, which were updated early in quality and impact of the contribution they
2010, are intended to be used fl exibly by schools make to school improvement.
to achieve short-term impact, focus and alignment, It details the areas that governors need to be
alongside longer-term capacity-building, and profi cient in, such as the roles, responsibilities
sustainable improvement. and accountabilities of governing bodies, school
Th e suite of materials starts with an overview improvement planning, key indicators of how
and user guide aimed at headteachers and schools are doing, and the role of governors in
school improvement partners or National schools’ self-evaluation.
Challenge advisors. Ms Soul said: “It supports them to understand
Other materials are the Raising Attainment what we mean by school improvement and to
Plan (RAP) Management Guide (which outlines carry out their strategic role of challenging and
the essential features for eff ective improvement supporting school leadership teams.”
planning), self-assessment materials, and 10
elements which explore the 10 key aspects of
Further information
management systems and structures. For information about the Stronger Management
Th e 10 elements cover a wide range of areas, Systems programme, visit: www.standards.dcsf.gov.
including eff ective line management structures uk/nationalstrategies/sup5/sms
and practice, pupil identifi cation and intervention The Raising Attainment Plan (RAP) Management
using the Venn analysis tool, and monitoring Guide is available at: www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/
and evaluation underpinned by a clear focus nationalstrategies/sup5/rapguide
on standards. Stronger Governance Systems is available at:
Each element features a rationale and a list of www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/nationalstrategies/sup5/sgs
quality standards against which schools can assess
10 SecEd
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