The Zodiac Zone

Summary - This case study is an exceptional example of how ambitious goals can be achieved in an area of significant deprivation and under achievement, through clear vision at the outset; effective planning and organisation; and full commitment by those involved. 

Introduction: The Zodiac Excellence in Cities Action Zone started in September 2001, following a year of consultation and collaboration between a group of Head Teachers in the north of the City of Stoke-on-Trent. The area served by the Zone had been identified by the Excellence in Cities Partnership as an area needing intensive support based on both: current achievement; and the socio economic data available at the time. The eleven schools involved cover nursery, primary, special education (moderate learning difficulties) and secondary schools with ages ranging 3-16 years of age. Currently there are 4124 pupils in our Zone and they attend one of the following schools:
  

Brownhills Maths & Computing College	Burnwood Nursery
Burnwood Community	Hollywall Primary
James Brindley High	John Baskeyfield CE Primary
Middlehurst Special	Packmoor Community
St Marys CE Primary	Summerbank Primary
Whitfield Valley Primary

Aims:  The Zone aims to help raise standards of education, develop self esteem in children and adults, promote racial harmony within the Zone area (this being a discrete geographical area with a predominantly white population) and develop relationships with parents and families, seen as a key factor in the low achievements, and aspirations of our young people.

Outcomes: Across the Zone between 2001 – 2004:

• Attendance improved by 1%
• Pupils staying in zone on transfer to high school increased by 1%
• Key Stage 2 results improved by 15%.
• Key Stage 4 results (A-C) improved by 64%
• Support for subject leaders network groups – cross phase
• Collaborative learning opportunities for Head teachers, Deputy Head teachers, Classroom Assistants, Administrative staff with some undertaking NVQ 2/3 in business administration and NCSL Bursar qualification
• Zodiac Zone is well known
• Summer activity programme for families developed.
• ICT resources and support

Key factor: Key to the success of the project was the early identification of a 'Zone base' sited at a primary school and a clear identity that could be shared with all, hence the creation of the Zodiac Zone logo and motto - 'Creating stars of the future'.

Organisation: Prior to the Zone there had not been the opportunity for any concerted approach to tackling the major issues and the setting up of the Zodiac Zone enabled Head teachers to decide how best to use the available resources as a catalyst for change.

• The 11 Head teachers developed the delivery plan for the initial three year life of the Zone and
• Formed the Steering Group, ensuring that a Strategic Forum of Partners should oversee and offer guidance to the project.
• At the outset a Zone Co-ordinator and Administrator were employed centrally to serve both the Strategic Forum and Steering Group. 
• 2 Primary Learning Mentors and a Family Support Co-ordinator were employed centrally to deliver relevant parts of the plan.
• After year one ICT was reprioritised and a central technician and co-ordinator were employed to support- initially, the zone primary schools. Two additional Family support Workers due to the needs of the area.
• Each school identified a member of staff to co-ordinate activity in school and an honorarium was paid to support this.
• Network groups (after school) were also set up and are still operational to enable subject co-ordinators to work together. These cover primary and secondary. They are co-ordinated through the central base and served by one of the Zone School co-ordinators.

Finance: Both the Strategic Forum (private sector and public sector personnel) and the Steering Group, felt that more could be gained collectively than separately. To this end, a separate Zodiac Zone cost centre was set up within the LEA finance section, where any monies were paid in, monitored, and paid out.  This enabled additional monies to be raised on behalf of the Zone e.g. funding for two additional family workers was secured for a twelve month period with £12000 from the Britannia foundation, match funded by DfES.

The Zodiac Zone had £250,000 per year from September 2001 and has been able to raise a further £50,000 per year through match funding. We have also been able to secure both actual and in kind monies from private companies and to bid to other agencies for funding to support our cause.

Whilst funding is initially put into school budgets all resources are pooled as we have found that we can get discounts from other companies, ensure continuity and progression and co-ordinate activities more effectively i.e. Displaying 2000 pieces of Art work in the City's Cultural Quarter, public buildings and factories, holding two Zone Extravaganzas in The Cultural Quarter enabling some 750 pupils to display their talents to their families and friends most of whom had never visited the venue before.

Protocol: An agreed protocol has been developed and actioned by the schools and Steering Group meetings are held each half term to ensure the plan is delivered and spend agreed. All monies are spent following decisions made and agreed by the Head teachers and sanctioned by the Strategic Forum.

Programmes / Activities: 

• Zone training days have served some 370 staff with key speakers, all schools closing for these events.
• We have a NCSL Collaborative Head Teacher Leadership Learning Group and are just beginning a Zodiac Collaborative leading from the middle programme.
• Self esteem programmes for staff, pupils and parents have taken place with support from our LEA, namely the Pacific Institute programmes.

Support: Other agencies have worked with us to support our parents, e.g. developing handling children’s behaviour programmes; and with our local college we have held myriad courses, some to support their children’s learning and others to develop lifelong learning in an area not used to this. We have held two awards evenings for Parents where they receive Zone Certificates that they then put in their Zone record of achievement.

Volunteer support is crucial in our area and we are fortunate that on average there are 47 volunteers working in our schools each week. We could not do without them.

The Future: The schools directly involved have made the commitment to continue to work together as the development of a collaborative trusting, caring, sharing and nurturing community is valued immensely.

For more information, please contact Anne Thompson, either by emailing zodiac@sgfl.org.uk or by calling 01782 235429.