Lancashire’s Learning Excellence Award
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply for a Learning Excellence Award?
All Lancashire schools are eligible to apply – this includes Nursery, SpecialSchools, ShortStaySchools, Primary and High Schools. Application and assessment is free and all successful schools receive a free, framed certificate. Schools may also choose to purchase a plaque (approx £35.00 each).
There are two applications rounds each year:
–Round One from June to October (Awards accredited in November)
–Round Two from December to April (Awards accredited in May).
Successful schools from both application rounds will be invited to attend the annual award ceremony,held in June each year.
Accreditation will normally last for three years from the date the practice is accredited.
What does the Award accredit?
Whilst the application needs to be set in the context of development or improvement in learning and teaching, it is the leadership and management within the school that has enabled the successful implementation of the practice that is accredited through this Award.
Consequently, the application needs to explain how the school has undertaken:-
-a needs analysis
-careful planning
-effective management of change
-improvement in resources
-professional development
leading to improvements in learning, achievement, enjoyment – i.e. impact.
Effective applications focus on a specific aspect of practice (e.g. the use of AfL strategies in raising standards in writing at KS2) and are evaluative rather than descriptive.
Why are there different standards within the Award?
The standards are intended to help schools recognise and achieve sustainable improvement in aspects of their leadership and management. Success is measured by the positive impact of the practice on pupils’ achievement, learning and achievement.
The different standards are not intended to be hierarchical with one of higher worth than another, but merely reflecting the nature of the practice that is the context for the application.
The scheme will recognise strategies and initiatives as good practice where there are clear indications that the implementation:
-has explicit links to raising standards;
-has, or will have, a positive impact on pupils’ learning, achievement and/or enjoyment;
-is supported by good planning in the initial stages and longer term;
-emanates from a need identified through evidence-based research or analysis;
-is disseminated across the school and/or
-will lead to further developments.
The scheme will recognise best practice when good practice is:
-improved as a result of evaluation and refinement;
-embedded in the organisational patterns of the school;
-a feature of the work of the school and contributes towards the realisation of the school’s aims and ethos and
-known and recognised as a strength by members of the wider school community.
The scheme will recognise innovative practice where it:
–involves new or different approaches and strategies;
–is a modification or adaptation of recognised good practice;
–arises from action research or develops as a result of new ideas or thinking;
–is ground breaking in the context of the school and
–has value for the pupils.
Does the practice which is the context for the application have to be ‘leading edge’ or unique within Lancashire?
No. We recognise that all schools are at different stages of development and what may be ‘ground-breaking’ for one school, could be a long accepted aspect of practice in another. Provided the practice meets the learning needs of the children of the school, that the change in practice is managed well and that it leads to demonstrableimprovement in learning, achievement and/or enjoyment, then it is eligible for consideration.
How does the accreditation process work?
A school cannot apply for an Award until it has committed to the Award Scheme – by completing a one-page form providing contact details and a signature. To obtain a form, please contact Fiona Holland, who is based at the Globe, Accrington on 01254 220740 (or email ). Commitment is free of charge and all committed schools receive a free Certificate of Commitment.
Committed Schools then apply for an award on a short application proforma; experience suggests that completing the proforma takes approximately two to three hours. Fiona can provide the form orit can be downloaded in Word format from Learning Excellence Award website).
Applications are assessed by panels of senior leaders from Lancashire schools, including Headteachersand governors from primary, secondary and special schools. Each area of the County has its own panel. An adviser is present at panel meetings to ensure consistency in the application of the assessment criteria.
One of the recognised strengths of the award is that schools’ practice is being assessed by a group of school leaders. Members of the accreditation panels have been chosen for their credibility with their colleagues and have proved extremely rigorous in their work, providing a strong level of quality assurance.
It is also planned that a representative sample of applications should be validated by visits to the schools through an external assessor.
What sort of evidence is required?
A strong element of the philosophy of this Award is the concept of ‘professional trust’.If a Headteacher states on their application that an aspect of practice is effective, and this is backed up by the testimony of a critical friend such as an adviser or Chair of Governors and by relevant data, we believe it should be given appropriate credence.
Nevertheless, schools are asked to submit lists of pertinent evidence on their application forms. A smallselection of key evidence is identified by the accreditation panels and requested in advance tosupport the formal assessment process. Should any evidence cited in an application not be available, the application will be disqualified.
What is the role of the school adviser?
Advisers may also be asked – for example as part of an SSG visit – to support a school in the completion of the application form or to provide a supporting statement indicating the impact of the practice. Nick Broome (07795 497 307) is available to support schools this process where required.
There is a requirement to replace members of the accreditation panelson a regular basis. If you are interested in being involved in this work, we would be grateful to hear from you.
Case study examples of applications are posted on the ‘Sharing Good Practice’ area of the LGfL website.
Where next?
We are hoping to encourage more applications from Foundation Stage settings and involve High Schools more actively in the scheme.
We are also hoping to accredit effective leadership and management at subject leader as well as whole school level in the future.
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