21st Century Schools
In 2007, the Department for Children, Schools and Families
launched ‘The Children’s Plan’ which aims to make England the best
place in the world for children and young people to grow up.
The launch of ‘21st Century Schools’ builds on this vision
placing the broader needs of young people at the centre of a
co-ordinated approach to securing high academic standards and the
well being of all young people across schools and childrens
services.
The success of the Children’s Plan ambition depends on creating
a school system which prepares every young person to make a success
of their life. The Department for Children, Schools and Families
holds a longer term vision where;
- Excellent, personalised education and development contributes
to all aspects of well-being for pupils and is the norm for all
pupils
- Targeted support through a multi-disciplinary workforce
provides the heart of a preventative system
- Schools are a valued resource for parents and the wider
community “Extended Schools ++”
- The best leadership is spread across the system and through
consecutive partnership working better outcomes are achieved for
all young people, including Children’s Trusts
- Accountability system reflects the range of outcomes and drives
improvements at all levels – school report card
- Funding systems and governance arrangements incentivise and
reward continuous improvement
- The achievements of the least advantaged improving faster than
average
- No limit on aspiration
Local authorities and schools play a key role in making these
aims a reality. By being at the heart of Children’s Trusts, they
will help drive the provision of services for children, families
and the wider community. In addition, by building
relationships with a wide range of partners such as other schools,
businesses, universities, further education institutions and
charities, these ‘21st Century schools’ will be able to harness the
expertise of their partners to offer personalised learning, raise
attainment and ensure that every child has the chance to reach its
potential.
Collaborative models like Trust schools will support local
authorities in cementing cross service relationships with partners
that will sustain school improvement initiatives and ensure that
young people have the skills and experience they need for the
workplace. By developing the formal partnerships in Trusts, with
and between schools and extended services a local authority can
engage the local community in the strategic direction of their
schools and strengthen their curriculum offer.
As an active partner in a Trust the local authority and schools
can be at the heart of the planning and delivery arrangements under
children’s trusts to help define the priorities for their local
area and agreeing how the whole pattern of local services best fits
together to meet need.
For more information on the 21st century schools system, please
click here:
http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/DCSF-01044-2008.pdf