New scheme for schools to share best practices launched

The Education Excellence in Oxfordshire (EEO) initiative is a group of schools, supported by Oxfordshire County Council, to develop a programme of leadership development opportunities for schools across Oxfordshire.

One of the group’s primary roles will be to develop ways of sharing best practice and potential learning opportunities between schools in a regular, systematic and planned way.

The aim is to produce an Oxfordshire Leadership Development Framework that signpost the opportunities available to all leaders. This will lead to developing a ‘Growing Future Leaders’ programme, which will ensure that those with leadership potential have the opportunity to develop as effective leaders.

To coordinate sharing practice and communication between the organisations involved, EEO will set up a series of networks for subject leaders, key stage leaders and early year leaders.

World class schooling

Cllr Melinda Tilley, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “Leadership development is a key part of Oxfordshire County Council’s strategy to make schooling in Oxfordshire world class for all our children and young people.

“The county has excellent leaders and potential future leaders and retaining them is one of our key priorities. This kind of initiative, although still very much in its infancy, clearly demonstrates to parents and their children that we are totally committed to working with all our schools to improve educational standards throughout the county.”

Drawing together best practices

Paul James, Head teacher of The Cherwell School, which is a founding member of the EEO, said: “Drawing together the best practice from across the county and country in leadership development will help to provide the best possible educational opportunities for all children and young people in Oxfordshire.

“We are looking forward to working with colleagues from across the county as we seek to develop these programmes, and see a real positive impact in all our schools.”

The EEO group, along with 12 other ‘Outstanding’ and ‘Good’ Oxfordshire schools have recently applied to the National College for Teaching School Alliance status. 

If granted, this four year accreditation will highlight and promote the calibre and extent of planned collaboration between schools.

The 10 founding schools in the EEO are:

Appleton CE Primary

Chipping Norton School

Frank Wise School

King Alfred’s School

Ladygrove Park Primary School

Lord Williams’s School

Matthew Arnold School

Rush Common School

The Cherwell School

Bartholomew School