Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Developing
Tomorrow’s Leaders,
TODAY!
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Pank Patel
Head Teacher
National Leader of Education
James Topham
Associate Headteacher
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of
Sport, Maths and
Computing
“Wood Green High School College of Sport, Maths and
Computing provides pupils with an outstanding quality of
education. Staff, pupils, parents and governors are
understandably proud of the school.” ~ Ofsted 2006
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Context – The Journey….
• 11 – 19 Inclusive multi racial Community School
– 26% Ethnic minority
• 17% from Walsall (42% of our ethnic minority)
– 40%+ free school meals (only 18-20% claim)
• High levels of deprivation – Social housing, 20%
from over crowded housing
• Working class backgrounds
• High SEN numbers
• Varied environment – road through the school
• Victorian Grammar school, flat roof extensions, etc.
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
1998
X A* – C grades 31%
X Ofsted Jan 1997 – KS3 satisfactory; KS4 teaching
and learning narrow in range
X Little distributed leadership
X Limited provision for SEN
X Low expectations
X Low numbers in Sixth Form
 New Headteacher Sept. 1998/September 2006
 Sports College status Sept. 1998
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Where are we now?
Sports College
Leading Edge School
Designated ‘High Performing Leading School’
Designated Maths and Computing College
Sports College of the Year 2006/7 – Daily Telegraph
National Support School – National Leader of Education
Working with other schools
Two Outstanding Ofsteds – recognised by Ofsted in the
Excelling against the Odds publication (2008)
Trust School (2008) and now a New Converter Academy
(April 2011)
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Where are we now?
Results..... Our best ever...
74% of all Year 11 students got 5 or more GCSE’s with
A*, A, B or C grades
59.4% of all Year 11 students got 5 or more GCSE’s
including English and Maths with A*, A, B or C grades
(20%+ on FFTD)
At A2 - 100% Pass rate
74% A-C grades - Increase (62% last year)
45% A-B grades
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
School Improvement
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
School Improvement
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Steve Munby – National College
“GREAT SCHOOL leadership does not only come from the
headteacher, despite the impression given by the media on
almost a daily basis.
We know that leadership is at its best and most effective when it
is distributed among a number of talented individuals according
to their skills and expertise.
It is the deputy and assistant heads, heads of department and
coordinated heading up areas such as business management or
SEN, who are just as vital to school improvement.”
The Schools Engine Room, SecED June 2011
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Why at Wood Green?
 In any school, the staff body is its greatest resource and the most
influential factor in school improvement
 High level of distributed leadership exist across the school with high
accountability and high challenge.
 Recruitment is a major issue as the West Midlands is not the most
glamorous of places to settle in. The high levels of deprivation and the
challenges that this brings put many people off.
 The remodelling of the staffing structure.
 We needed to provide even more motivators for staff.
 Providing a view of the bigger picture (everyone is a head teacher!)
 Succession Planning
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Staff Leadership
Programmes
Two main programmes:
 Aspiring Middle Leaders Programme
Designed for staff that have aspirations to become middle leaders
or staff that are new to middle leadership
3 Cohorts – 36 members of staff
Programme lasts 1 year
 Aspiring Senior Leaders Programme
Designed for staff that have aspirations to become senior leaders
or are new to the leadership team
1 cohort – 8 members of staff, another cohort of 8 is scheduled to
start in September 2011.
Programme lasts 2 years
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Aspiring Middle Leaders
Term One – Taught Module
 Leadership
 Data and Target Setting
 Inclusion, Behaviour and Dealing with Parents
 Curriculum Planning, Timetabling, SOW and Teaching and Learning
 Staffing, Performance Management
 SEF, Improvement Planning and Budget
 Research
Most topics to last two weeks one week focus on Curriculum leader
perspective and the other week focusing on a Year Leader perspective
Term Two and Three
 Work shadow/assist (Year Leader or Curriculum Leader) for a term and
then swap.
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Aspiring Senior Leaders
Term One (Taught module)
Each topic to last two weeks (1 week taught and 1 week practical
tasks/exercises)
 Leadership
 Data
 Specialisms and Writing Bids
 Writing the SEF and SIP
 Finance
 Curriculum and Timetabling
 Student Achievement and Welfare
 Personnel/Staffing
 Research
Most topics to last two weeks (1 week taught and 1 week practical
tasks/exercises)
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Aspiring Senior Leaders
Term Two and Term Three – Project work and evaluation
Each applicant takes on a project with a whole school perspective and will
each have a member of the Leadership team as a coach. In addition they
should also:
Deliver an assembly to a year group on a whole school issue
Assist in coaching aspiring/current middle leaders
Attend at least one governors meeting
Evaluate their project area
Complete a presentation to a suitable audience (SLT, RATL, Parents or Pupils
as appropriate)
Terms Four, Five and Six
Applicants should go into more depth in an area of their choice and
shadow/assist members of SLT as appropriate. They should also be
involved in delivery on our RATL days with external visitors.
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Feedback
Did this programme meet your objectives?
 Yes in its entirety
 Yes it has been an immensely informative introduction and preparation for
leadership
 Absolutely
How will you implement the strategies you have learnt?
 Take more of a whole school approach to department issues
 Try to be more hands off when it comes to be operational matters and
focus more clearly on the strategic perspective.
 Evaluate my strengths and consider what to do to improve areas of
weakness
 I will ensure I look at data and targets on a wider scale
How could the programme be improved?
 More homework
 A 1:1 individual action planning session with a senior leader
 More cake
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Video
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
TASK
Can you identify the future leaders in your school?
If yes could you name 10 of them?
What do you do or are you doing to develop the potential of staff in your
school?
Do you have someone to step into someone’s shoes if necessary? I.e. if
your Head of Maths leaves do you have someone in waiting? If so how
are they being prepared for this role?
What model of Leadership development do you adopt in your school and
how successful is it?
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
FEEDBACK
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Staff Development
Opportunities
• CPD programme
• Staff Presenting
• Staff working in other schools
• NLE/NSS work
• Leading Edge
• English Hub
• Staff presenting in RATL Days
• Innovation Unit
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Student Leadership
Programmes
•
•
•
•
•
•
YeL@
MYLA
Sports Leaders
Arts Leaders
Enrichment Leaders
Governors Meeting
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Video
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Senior Leadership Team
Development
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
SLT
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
What's next
• Application for Teaching School
• Application for Outstanding
Teacher Programme
• National College – Accredited
programme for Middle Leaders
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT
Wood Green Academy
A Specialist College of Sport,
Maths and Computing
Thank you.
Have a good day.
Pank Patel
pank.patel@woodgreenacademy.co.uk
James Topham
james.topham@woodgreenacademy.co.uk
PERSISTENT ~ CONSISTENT ~ INSISTENT