Heads of Department and School Development Planning

Leading Change
with Parents
HoDs TWILIGHT INSET
Tuesday 24th September 2013
Mark S. Steed, MA (Cantab.), MA
Principal, Berkhamsted Schools Group

Whole-School Strategic and Development Planning
Purpose

Whole-School Strategic
Development Planning
Strategy v. Development Planning

Strategy v. Development
Berkhamsted
School

Strategy is concerned with defining the shape and
extent of the organisation
Berkhamsted
School

Strategy is concerned with defining the shape and
extent of the organisation
Development is concerned
with how the organisation is
going to adapt and improve –
within the strategic
parameters

Some Key Strategic Issues
Market
Niche

Some Key Strategic Issues
Opportunities
Mergers with other schools
Closure of other schools
Threats
Recession – Affordability
Strong Rivals
New Rivals
Academies, Free Schools
Changes in Regulations
Anticipating Change

Some Key Development Issues
School
Improvement
Plan

Strategic Planning is
concerned with
determining what “B”
looks like.

Development Planning is concerned with
determining the steps that will take us from “A”
to “B”?
Strategic Planning is
concerned with
determining what “B”
looks like.

The Development Planning Process

Whole-School Development Planning
Development Planning Process
Decision
Planning
Proposals
Ideas
• Where are we going as a School?2. Direction
• What do we stand for?1. Values & Aims
Development Planning builds on the
foundations laid down by the Strategic
Plan

Decision
Planning
Proposals
• What about this?3. Ideas

Decision
Planning
• What might we do?4. Proposals

Decision
• What is the scope of the project?5. Planning

• What we are going to do.6. Decision

Department Development Planning
Planning
Proposals
Ideas
2. Direction
• What are we trying to achieve as a
Department?1. Values & Aims

1. Values and Aims
What are the aims of your department?
• To maximise results?
– at any cost? Spoonfeeding? Drilling for the exam?
• To attract more pupils to the subject?
– for GCSE, A-level?
– who go on to read the subject at university?
• To lay the foundations for the next level of study?
• To give a grounding in the subject that they will
take through life?

Planning
Proposals
Ideas
• Where are we going as a
Department?2. Direction
1. Values & Aims

2. Direction
What is the direction of your department?
What is your vision for the department?
What are the indicators of success?

Planning
Proposals
2. Direction
1. Values & Aims

3. Ideas: “Blue-sky thinking”
What
Experiences/ Skills/ Knowledge/ Understanding
do we want pupils to have
as part of the curriculum at each Key Stage?

6. Decision
5. Planning
3. Ideas
2. Direction

6. Decision
4. Proposals
3. Ideas
2. Direction

5. Planning: Think Scarce Resources
Scarce Resources
• Time
• People
• Space
• Skills
• Cost
Time
People
Space
Skills
Cash

5. Planning: Think Scarce Resources
Scarce Resources
• Time
• People
• Space
• Skills
• Cost
In School Terms:
• Curriculum Allocation
• Teaching and Support Staff
• Classrooms
• Training, CPD, INSET
• Capital/ Fit-out/ Staffing and
Running Costs
Time
People
Space
Skills
Cash

5. Planning: Opportunity Cost
Scarce Resources
• Time
• People
• Space
• Skills
• Cost
In School Terms:
• Curriculum Allocation
• Teaching and Support Staff
• Classrooms
• Training, CPD, INSET
• Capital/ Fit-out/ Staffing and
Running Costs
Time
People
Space
Skills
Cash

• What we are going to do.6. Decision
5. Planning
4. Proposals
3. Ideas
2. Direction
1. Values & Aims

6. Decision
Key Questions:
• Time
• People
• Space
• Skills
• Cost
What
When
How
Who
Why

Whole-School Strategic Development Planning
6. Decision
Key Questions:
• Time
• People
• Space
• Skills
• Cost
are we going to do?
are we going to do it?
are we going to pay for it?
is responsible for getting it done?
are we doing it?
What
When
How
Who
Why

6. Decision
The Importance of “Why?”

Cycle of Review

School
Development
Plan
Department
Development
Plan

Annual Strategic Priorities
Fives areas in which the school want to see a
significant improvement in the coming academic
year.

Strategic Priorities 2013-14
1. Engagement
2. Empowerment
3. Improved Communication
4. Building a Professional Learning Community
5. Working Smart

1. Engagement
– A shift to a “love a of learning” from a “Utilitarian”
approach
– Pupils being “Independent Learners”
– See an increase in pupils’ collaborative learning
– All teachers to use/explore ideas for use of mobile devices
for teaching and learning
– Embedding new Y7 blog
– Increased opportunities for multi-sensory learning in Pre-
Prep/Prep

2. Empowerment
– Heads of Department and Curriculum Leaders taking
greater lead in whole school planning and development.
– Reflective, Engaging, Dynamic, Enthusiastic Teachers
– “Student Voice”

3. Improved Communication
– Internal Group Communication
• Getting a balance on email
• Increase digital signage across BSG
• Microsoft Lync/Outlook – roll out in leadership teams
– External and Parental Communication
• Deliver the communication strategy
• Parent Portal at heart of parent communication and in use
• Building content and refreshing website
• Social media channels used extensively by the right range of
people across the School

4. Building a Professional Learning Community
A "Professional Learning Community" is one where everyone
in the organisation (whether part of the teaching or support
staff) sees him or herself as a learner - i.e. someone who is
looking to learn new skills, acquire new knowledge and
understanding, and who is looking to improve as a
practitioner.
– Every member of teaching and support staff to see CPD an
essential professional responsibility.
– Lead by example – be a life-long learner.
– Improved ICT competence

5. Working Smart
– Improved, Embedded systems and Automated workflows
• Achieve integrated, whole-group calendar, booking and resource
system
• Intranet development
– Improving staff efficiencies – time, training and resources

Timeline 2014-15
Departmental Development Plans
• SMT Away Day 14th-15th March
– Review of Strategic Priorities 2013-14
– Determination of Strategic Priorities 2014-15
• Trinity Term
– Discussions within Departments
• End of Trinity Term 2014
– Departmental Development Plan complete
• Summer Vacation 2014
– Whole School Development Plan finalised

Five Minute Personal Reflection Exercise
Values and Aims
Considering your Department’s curriculum as a
whole (Y7-Y13 or Y9 to Y13):
• What do you consider the overall aims of your
Department?
• What are you trying to achieved?
• What does it mean to be educated in your
department?

Values and Aims
Now consider the Key Stage 3 Curriculum for
your subject:
• What are you trying to achieve with it?
• What is the underlying agenda?
• How does KS3 contribute to the overall aims
of the Department?
• Why are you teaching what you teach at KS3?
• Are you happy with your answers?

Values and Aims
What are your aims as HoD?
• What are you trying to achieve
as a Head of Department?
• When you look back on your
time as HoD, what will you want
to have achieved?
• What difference will you have
made?

Department Vision Exercise
What does “B” look like for your department?
What is your vision for the department?
How will you know when you have reached “B”?
What difference will it
make for pupils?

Department “Blue-Sky” Thinking Exercise
What
knowledge/ understanding/ skills/ experiences
do we want pupils to have
in Year 7?
in Year 8?
in Year 9?

Email: principal@berkhamstedschool.org
Twitter: @independenthead
Linkedin: uk.linkedin.com/in/independenthead
Blog: http://independenthead.blogspot.com

Heads of Department and School Development Planning

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