Preparing for school improvement partners in primary schools

Date of issue: Jun. 2005

Audience: Heads and deputies

As a result of the New Relationship with Schools (NRwS) trials the DfES are now piloting the primary School Improvement Partner (SIP) in six local authorities from September 2005 to test the model and learn from practical experience. Haringey, Lancashire, Liverpool, Manchester, Redbridge and West Sussex have been invited to take part in the pilot.

Our proposed timetable for the roll out of the primary SIPs programme is:

In the autumn term 2005 the DfES and the National Strategies approach each local authority to discuss the preferred timetable for the change to School Improvement Partners.
In early January 2006 the National Strategies will set out and advertise the assessment, training and accreditation process for primary SIPs.
The on-line assessment will begin in February 2006 and the first training courses will be in March 2006. The first group of primary accredited SIPs will be available in May 2006.
Primary SIPs will start work in 30 to 40 local authorities in September 2006 and by September 2007 Primary SIPs will start work in the remaining 110 to 120 local authorities.

Further reading:
The New Relationship with Schools – Next Steps joint DfES and Ofsted document published in March 2005 covers in detail the important implications for local authority school improvement services and others working in and around schools.