Executive group research
Research and development for self-improvement
Meeting the challenges of providing education in an increasingly complex and technological society requires the constant development of skills, attitudes and ways of working. In the last eighteen months, SEF has become involved in several initiatives to underpin research-based practice in teaching and in leadership and management. Strong links with university partners and with the IGA mean that we are well-placed to make great strides through collaboration with each other and with external partners. Information on some of our initiatives can be found below, but watch this space for new initiatives.
Working with IGA to develop our group strengths
Since its inception in 1971 to provide clinical training in group psychotherapy, The Institute of Group Analysis (IGA) has developed a presence in many regions of the UK. The IGA is a National Institute dedicated to providing high quality training in the field of group psychotherapy and group dynamics.
The IGA is delighted to form a working relationship with SEF as a result of the work in which Vince Leahy and Stuart Woods, Chair and Headteacher of Upper Shirley High, have been engaged over a number of years.
Peer-to-peer reviews
Our approach to developing a self-improving schools' system
The nature of development and improvement in schools and colleges is changing. There is no longer the funding available for significant numbers to partake in conferences and/or courses, with resulting possible limited impact on individual departments, schools and colleges.
Further, the evolving role of the Local Authority has required that schools and colleges work in different, more innovative, ways to achieve school/college improvement. In addition, the fluid political landscape means that some schools and colleges could become isolated if not part of a multi-academy trust or some other collaborative structure. Finally, there is a shared aspiration for Southampton schools and colleges to achieve a place in the top 50 local authority league tables, across all performance measures.
To mitigate for some of the changes arising from this political contact, the SEF Executive has developed a City-wide, Peer-to-Peer Review (P2P) programme. The programme provides opportunity for senior leaders to act as consultants and engage in robust and challenging conversations about self-identified issues in each others' schools and colleges. While being challenging and robust, the process is both confidential and supportive. Guided and framed by agreed protocols, the Review programme has the potential to bring about transformational change in Southampton schools and colleges.
