The Clifton Partnership Excellence in Cities Action Zone is a government-funded initiative. It is part of the Excellence in Cities (EiC) strategy which is managed by the Rotherham EiC Board. The seven strands of Excellence in Cities are: Action Zones, Specialist Schools, Beacon Schools, City Learning Centres, Learning Mentors, Pupil Support Units and Gifted & Talented Provision.
The Clifton Partnership works with one comprehensive school, seven primary schools and one centre of Early Excellence.
The overall aim of the Zone is to provide additional support to its schools to raise attainment and achievement for all pupils. We provide resources, training and support, and deliver an agreed plan across all our schools.
The three priorities for the Clifton Partnership are:
Support for Learning - To raise attainment through the basic skills (Literacy, Numeracy and ICT) as well as giving pupils strategies to aid their learning skills. These include thinking skills, provision for gifted & talented pupils, as well as reflecting on the quality and range of curriculum on offer.
Continuity & Progression - To manage the curriculum continuum allowing for progression through the Key Stages and smooth transition from school-to-school building on both curriculum and pastoral progression.
Widening Opportunities - To give pupils a range of sporting, music, drama, dance and creative experiences to raise their self-esteem, aspirations and expectations thereby engaging them in the education process. We are now working hard to provide family and community learning opportunities for the wider community we serve.
What does this mean for our schools/pupils?
The Action Zone will work with teachers, pupils and parents to provide additional support, resources and opportunities to help raise attainment and provide a range of activities to engage pupils in wider aspects of their development.
Staff from all schools have met for in-service training provided through whole school closure days, twilight sessions, staff meetings, year teams, subject areas and individual modelling. We have led INSET in ICT (NOF), Writing, Reading, Oracy, Numeracy, Science, PE, Dance and Music.
Staff from all schools meet regularly through subject-based Professional Learning Teams (PLT) to share good practice, collaborate on planning and manage the curriculum continuum from Reception to Year 11. They work together to share strengths and address barriers to learning.
Regular meetings held for all Headteachers have been held to develop a shared view across the Zone schools. Common policies have been developed to provide an agreed ethos in all our schools.
We have co-ordinated a variety of festivals for Sport/PE to involve pupils from all ages at local clubs, e.g. Hockey, Rugby, Basketball, Cricket, Athletics, Swimming. We also provide clubs within schools to develop sporting opportunities.
We aim to provide music support in all schools for curriculum delivery and give pupils the opportunity to perform with their schools at the Zone music evenings.
The Multi-Agency Support Team (MAST) works to support children and families. It brings together the statutory providers and voluntary sector groups to provide a range of services for our children.
We are co-ordinating Zone-wide opportunities to develop strategies to deal with poor attendance, PSHE and Citizenship, Out-of-Hours study support and build into the Zone the capacity to deal with other initiatives as necessary.
The Zone helps to manage the overview of the key factors in the transition of pupils across Key Stages, focusing particularly between Junior and Secondary phases.
The Behaviour Improvement Programme (BIP) is an extension of our MAST provision. It has allowed us to bring together our own team of Health and Education staff to support the needs of the most challenging and at-risk pupils. It supports pupil engagement and attendance at school as well as providing support at times of particular need.
We try to give all pupils the opportunity to succeed and celebrate their achievements in academic, sporting and performing activities, thereby raising their self-esteem and motivation to develop further skills and widening their involvement in their on-going education.
We co-ordinate the work of the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) Study Support in all partner schools, providing additional PE/Sport, Music and Drama activities at lunchtime and after school as well as study support workers in all schools providing a variety of other activities to support learning.
The Zone provides a focus for dealing with Cluster business and provides a capacity for managing new initiatives.
How is the Zone managed?
All the school's Headteachers come together with other interested parties to form the Wider Partnership. This group meet on a monthly basis to share common issues.
All the Zone activities are set out in the annual Action Plan, which is compiled in conjunction with all Headteachers and the Zone's core staff. The Rotherham EiC Partnership Board have overall responsibility for agreeing the annual Action Plans as part of the whole Excellence in Cities initiative.
