Headteacher Policy Groups

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Headteacher Policy Groups

• Mark Gore

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• The headteacher policy groups are a key mechanism
  in ensuring that the Directorate works closely
  with schools to improve outcomes for children and
  young people in Warwickshire.

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Background

• Consultation between 19 June 2007 and 28
  September 2007.
• A review of the policy groups was necessary
  because
• The policy groups should be aligned to the
  priorities of the Children and Young Peoples
  Plan rather than the now redundant Single
  Education Plan (reflected in the names of the
  groups).
• Attendance by headteachers at some policy groups
  was particularly low, limiting the impact and
  authority of the groups.

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Main change
The Primary Strategic Policy Group and Strategic
Policy Group (Secondary Headteachers) have
approved that the ten current headteacher policy
groups should be reduced to seven.
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Strategic Policy Groups

• Purpose To act as the lead headteacher policy
  group for their respective phase and to advise
  the Strategic Director on overarching strategic
  issues.
• Example agenda items Leadership and management,
  communication, consultation, partnership
  arrangements, governance, transition issues.

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Teaching and Learning Policy Groups

• Purpose To advise the Strategic Director on
  matters in relation to raising standards and
  improving outcomes for children and young people
  in Warwickshire schools.
• Example agenda items Standards / school
  improvement, SEN and inclusion, behaviour.

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Wellbeing Policy Groups

• Purpose To advise the Strategic Director on
  matters that affect the wellbeing of children and
  young people in Warwickshire (excluding resources
  issues).
• Example agenda items Extended services, enhanced
  support, Family Information Service, youth
  support, looked after children, Care Matters.

8
Resources Policy Group

• Purpose To advise the Strategic Director on all
  resource matters affecting Warwickshire schools.
• Example agenda items Finance, recruitment and
  retention, health and safety.
• Members of the Resources Policy Group will also
  be encouraged to represent headteachers on the
  Schools Forum.
• Group to be reviewed after one year.

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Other changes

• Primary Management Advisory Group now renamed
  Primary Strategic Policy Group
• Membership of each group for two years
• Membership link between Resources Policy Group
  and Capital Strategy Group to be severed
• Special School Headteachers to agree their
  representation on policy groups
• Secondary Area Meetings to have more detailed
  agenda and minutes SASH to run yearlong pilot

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Next steps

• Local Headteacher Forums and Area Associations to
  elect membership of each group
• Lead officers to contact members of each group
  with dates and time for meetings (starting
  January 2008)