Five years ago, Caterham School helped to found the East Surrey Learning Partnership to develop a new cross-sector collaboration which would break the mould of the traditional “outreach” work of independent schools.
It comprises a group of state-maintained and independent primary and secondary schools working in partnership with the shared goal of improving educational opportunities and outcomes for all young people in East Surrey. The last few years, and particularly those affected by Covid, have demonstrated how important, (and how powerful), local collaborations can be.
Collectively, ESLP schools cover an area of both socio-economic advantage and significant disadvantage (with some schools within the group at the national average for FSM). The significant difference versus the “old school” outreach model is baked into the structure of the group – each school has equal standing and representation.
A shared vision and strategy
Leaders from every ESLP school meet several times each term to identify particular areas of educational need and opportunity, which can range from curriculum support to staff training (and parent webinars), from facilities to logistics and transport. As a partnership we develop strategies and solutions to problems together.
“The partnership is a significant step away from merely loaning of facilities.”
The group works because it harnesses the wealth of knowledge and shared purpose across different education settings to drive opportunity for all young people – it engages pupils, teachers, parents and governors. The partnership is a significant step away from merely loaning of facilities to local primary schools, although that is still an important part of enhancing opportunity. Instead we collaborate as equal partners with a focus on strategic school improvement and improved educational outcomes for all pupils locally.
A catalyst to closer working
The ESLP began in 2018 but its work, and the realisation of the shared opportunities, were accelerated due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and school closures. Caterham was already very much a digital school with a clear approach for online teaching and learning, this meant we were able to flip to an online offer for prep and senior level very quickly.
This enabled colleagues to quickly support our ESLP partners with their challenges – everything from hardware to teacher training. Undoubtedly the challenges of these times contributed to the trust and respect that now exists amongst ESLP schools – and for a shared confidence in what can be achieved together.
“The partnership is a two-way street with everyone benefiting.”
Projects since the Covid-19 pandemic have been wide ranging from creating curriculum extension packs to support more able learners in maths and English within their primary school setting, to additional teacher training for computer coding for primary school teachers. There is also a Saturday 11+ preparation programme for Pupil Premium children applying to state grammar and independent schools on bursary places. The partnership is a two-way street with everyone benefiting, for instance this summer ESLP primary schools led a session training teachers, from across the partnership, in a programming package they had used with great success in their setting.
Sharing facilities strategically
Sharing facilities is still a part of the ESLP but is closely aligned to each school’s curriculum to maximise the impact on children’s learning. Instead of the typical occasional visits to a ‘big’ school down the road, we have worked with our partner schools to develop term long programmes of weekly science laboratory sessions which build on the KS2 curriculum.
At a senior level, aspiring medics from ESLP state-maintained secondary schools attend, and give pupil-led lectures, at weekly medic society meetings alongside their independent school peers.
And logistics do still play a role – transport is often the mortar in the bricks of ESLP projects.
Getting parents on board
Being part of the ESLP has had a tangible impact on our own school community, including our parents. This model of partnership was new to everyone within the collaboration (including parents) and the benefits of allocating significant time and resource from all the schools needed to be championed.
Parents now share the same sense of purpose that the schools do. Our own parents are actively engaged and help to raise funds for ESLP work: in 2022 to establish a STEM resource library of technology “kit” for loan by ESLP schools, and in 2023 for a mobile planetarium for use by partner schools.
“Our own parents are actively engaged and help to raise funds.”
In terms of prospective families, being the founding member of the ESLP is a positive point of choice for them, they want a school that is embedded in the local community which works together to solve problems, and which has a clear and shared sense of purpose.
Impact of partnership working
I am clear that as a partner school in the ESLP we both give, and gain, great benefit from being part of a diverse group who bring different points of view, experiences and solutions to our ongoing and vital work. The impact of each ESLP project is measured and assessed using ImpactED to ensure that efforts are improving educational outcomes. This has been key in making the project work – what feels or looks good is useless if it is not driving real improvement.
It’s also being noticed beyond East Surrey, for instance it was a significant factor in Tes awarding Caterham Best Independent Senior School this year, and we are keen to share our learning with other school leaders.