We use the term School Diversity to describe the way in which the education system is structured to enable schools to differentiate themselves according to their individual ethos, special character and areas of specialist expertise.
Britain has a history of diversity in education, which reflects the diverse needs and aspirations of its learners, and recognises that the education system must be responsive and dynamic if it is to meet the challenges of rapid regional and global change.
The Government actively promotes diversity in education through its school diversity programmes.
There are two key principles that underpin the Government's agenda for supporting school diversity:
Specialising
1. A school that builds on its individual strengths and develops a clear sense of its own ethos and character is more likely to be a successful school. The school diversity programmes promote school improvement by providing opportunities for schools to work to their strengths, enabling them to take the lead in their area of expertise and to drive innovation.
Collaborating
2. School diversity has the potential to benefit all students in a community when schools work together to share their resources and expertise. As schools develop their individual strengths, and standards of teaching and learning improve they can then contribute to raising standards in the wider system.
The rationale for promoting school diversity is based on sound evidence that schools with a mission and a clear focus are successful in raising standards. As schools develop their specific areas of expertise they should then be contributing to the wider system through a local network, or 'community of schools'.
What are the benefits for schools, students, parents and teachers?
Schools benefit in two ways. They have the opportunity to develop areas of particular strength, with funding and support to assist them for some programmes. They also have the potential to benefit from the diversity in the wider system, accessing resources and areas of expertise in other schools through school and community networks.
Parents benefit by having the confidence of knowing that their children can attend their local school and still have increased subject choices through the network of schools. Parents can also benefit, along with all adults in the community, from the learning opportunities being offered by specialist schools through their community plans.
Students benefit through the extra learning opportunities available. As networks are developed between schools, any student attending his or her local school should be confident of a sound education in core subjects, but will also benefit from the range of specialist subjects available in the local network of schools.
Teachers benefit by being supported to develop their areas of strength, share their good practice with teachers in other schools and be part of collaborative networks for continued professional development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you mean by 'school diversity'?
At an individual school level we mean schools developing a unique character to cater for the particular needs of their pupils and communities, and using their uniqueness to drive up standards.
At a local community level we mean developing networks of schools that are differentiated according to what they excel in and can go on to provide a source of expertise for other schools, sharing learning programmes, learning resources and professional development so that all students in the community benefit.
We promote school diversity through our programmes, which include specialist schools, beacon schools, leading edge partnerships, training schools, academies and city learning centres.
How does promoting school diversity raise standards?
By supporting individual schools to develop a clear vision and ethos based on the school's strengths. Being part of the school diversity programmes, such as specialist schools, means the school can put resources into specific areas and benefit from the support services available such as the Specialist Schools Trust and Youth Sport Trust.
At local community level the advantages can be even greater when schools share their particular strengths with other schools, developing networks to share good practice and using a variety of strategies to enable students to have access to a range of specialist subjects.
Doesn't promoting school diversity lead to a two-tier system, with good schools funded to get better and poor schools getting left behind?
Not when schools work together to share their areas of expertise, and benefit from the expertise in other schools. The intention behind school diversity policy is that; firstly, all schools ready and able to can, over time, be specialist schools; and secondly, that schools are strengthened by working with each other to contribute their particular areas of strength - this may be in the area of their specialist subject if they are a specialist school, but it may be in other areas as well such a behaviour management, student welfare, literacy and numeracy strategies etc.
Transformational change in education will not happen as long as schools operate as lone entities. Transformational change is only possible when schools share responsibility for raising standards with other local schools. One of the key strategies for the Diversity Pathfinder LEAs is to demonstrate how such a strategic and collaborative approach enables all schools to contribute positively to raising standards across the LEA.
