Schools

Summary of Service Offers

There are a number of opportunities for schools to engage, for free, with the learning resources developed from our programmes of work or to procure toolkits or services from us:

1. Toolkits and Resources

We have created a number of 'free' toolkits and resources for schools, based on learning and insights from our Next Practice in Education Programme and other activities that are available to download and use. 

2. Federations in Practice - Detailed Guidance and Case Studies

People working in school federations experience a whole range of achievements and challenges when working together. We have developed a variety of practical examples, categorised by type and focus of federation, demonstrating how collaborative working has happened across the country, from individual case studies to more general updates on particular issues. These may help you reflect on your own plans and aspirations. Additionally, many soft and hard federations need to produce specific contractual documents as a consequence of joint working or joint governance. You can also find here a number of useful documents, ranging from job descriptions for a federation co-ordinator to memorandums of understanding between partner schools.  

3. Next Practice Acceleration Space

We have developed the Next Practice Acceleration Space as a learning resource for practitioners who want to apply the best innovative practices. It has been developed with practitioners, supported by the Headshift social software consultancy, and is based on web 2.0 technology. It helps to connect practitioners to the relevant knowledge and experience they wish to learn more about and has been described as "Wikipedia meets Facebook meets online dating for school leaders interested in Next Practice."

4. Family !mpact - 'try before you buy'

Family !mpact is a unique, online tool, designed by The Innovation Unit, to capture and report, in real time, the views of parents/carers of schoolchildren. More information on Family !mpact can be found here including instructions on how to try a demonstration version of the tool for yourself.

5. Multi-school Trusts and Collaboratives

The Innovation Unit is keen to work with a limited number of multi-school Trusts and collaboratives to support them to achieve their aspirations and radical purposes. An overview of our service offer to them can be found here.

6. Headteacher/Chair of Governors Coach in a Box Product

The Innovation Unit is working with Coach in a Box to develop a tailored coaching process specifically designed to:

• help Headteachers and Chair's of Governors forge a strategic partnership for the benefit of the school
• provide tools to assist in building and sustaining an effective relationship
• directly apply the learning from the coaching product on a pressing strategic issue for the school. More information on the product can be found here.

7. Potential Sources of Funding for Innovative Projects

Please note that The Innovation Unit is not able to provide any direct finding for innovative projects. If you would like some ideas on securing funding for your innovative project see our potential sources of funding document.

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