The South Dartmoor Leading Practice Trust

Developing the use of new technology to transform practice in the curriculum and raising standards through data applications to enable personalised options.

This Single School Trust opened in September 2007.  South Dartmoor Community College is an 11-18, co-educational comprehensive school with 1650 on roll and situated within the Dartmoor National Park, serving a wide rural area of over 350 square miles.

Partners: - Capita Children’s Services,  E & J W  Glendinning Ltd,  TLO Ltd,  Exeter University.

The school was working with the partners previously but not in the progressive and developmental way that the School and Trust now work.  For example, two members of staff are now working across both institutions (University and school).  Teachers from Science and Mathematics have been given dedicated time to develop research projects with the University. Parents are trained by Capita on the SIMS Learning Gateway to access their son/daughter’s records to improve their support in their offspring’s education. The Development of ICT provision: The VLE and the Learning Gateway are enhancing opportunities for home and independent learning.

Examples of Trust impact include:

• Publication of the first edition of Educational Research in Classrooms, a South Dartmoor Community College publication, in collaboration with Trust partners. Written by teachers for teachers, filled with varied and stimulating articles on what happens in classrooms. The teachers have used systematic methods of enquiry and analysis to inform their practice. This is professional development at its best.
• Technology:  Taking the school into the home electronically (Capita). This uses the Learning Gateway which ensures that parents present and future are able to take the school into the home.
  “It enables me to keep as informed as I was when my son was in primary school so the transition issues are reduced.” (Parent comment)
• The Science research covers the gender aspects of students taking Science to offer insights into the barriers which prevent take up – male bias in 'A' level choices. 
• The Mathematics project focussing on pedagogy at KS3 and its investigations lead to adaptations needed to teach the new curriculum.
• Students are reporting on teachers’ lessons in respect of the learning environment and in SDCC there is now a culture of pupils as independent learners.

Plans for the future include increasing the use of technology to change pedagogy and use AST’s to lead in using digital imaging.  Ensure that 100% of parents are able to access the website on a regular basis and online reporting by September 2010.

“It is about collaboration across the school community rather than focusing on collaboration between schools. This stronger partnership with all stakeholders combined with making parents central to raising standard leads to real improvements”
(Ray Tarleton, Principal, South Dartmoor Community College)