The Great School Framework

A great school recognises that when the community is involved and empowered, the outcomes for pupils are improved.

The great school seeks to embed a culture of active engagement with stakeholders to understand and build upon the narratives, experiences and perspectives of the whole community and meet the needs of all groups. Leaders of great schools actively welcome and have a proactive programme for gaining feedback about what is working well and what could be improved - through pupil voice activities, school councils, network meetings, surveys and focus groups.  There is demonstrable evidence that voices across the school are regularly heard, valued and responded to - shaping the school’s strategic planning.

A great school recognises the significant role that parents and carers play in the educational outcomes of pupils, and seeks to build learning partnerships with all families, especially those which are hard to reach. The school shows commitment to a genuinely two-way communication process, which focuses on learning and wellbeing as well as the practicalities of school life.  Staff appreciate that they cannot fully understand their pupils if they do not have knowledge of their out-of-school lives, influences and experiences and so they create opportunities for developing their knowledge of the students’ lives out of school and they reflect on and utilise the knowledge they glean. They understand and celebrate the opportunities – but also appreciate and address the challenges – presented by their particular community context.

The great school and its community create shared beliefs about what they can achieve together. The school effectively promotes community cohesion, safeguards children from exploitation and challenges extremism. All pupils, supported and encouraged by the school, are contributing to and enriching the local area. The school’s facilities and resources are utilised fully by local people. A wealth of community groups are linked with the school and involved in enriching the curriculum. Through these strong links the school’s ethos permeates the locality.