The Beyond Partnership Project seeks to strengthen links between schools, initial teacher training (ITT) providers and other key stakeholders.
Background to the project
Since 1992 the TDA has worked to ensure sufficient capacity and quality in school-based training through specific initiatives including the National Partnership Project (2001-2005) and the current Partnership Development Schools Programme.
To date, the approach to ITT school partnerships has focused on identifying effective practice within the sector and sharing this through regional networks. This approach, together with the initiatives set out above, has built a considerable body of evidence which demonstrates a need for clear messaging and support for ITT partnerships from the TDA, to ensure that the needs of all stakeholders involved in the development of the children’s workforce in schools are met.
New policy drivers such as the Children’s Plan, 21st Century Schools and the 2020 Children and Young People’s Workforce Strategy emphasise the need for a step change in ITT to ensure that their role in delivering a world-class workforce keeps pace with both Government policy and the changing needs of schools.
Project aims
The Beyond Partnership Project aims to identify and develop case studies and new partnership models which:
- effectively harness the skills of those providing ITT to achieve substantial improvements for all partners
- support growth in professional learning across and between the different professional cultures working in the children’s and young people’s workforce
- are be best placed to deliver regionally and locally the key national priorities (such as the Masters in Teaching and Learning Programme)
- are flexible to meet local needs and make the best use of all the stakeholders’ expertise
The project aims to produce policy guidance on partnerships between stakeholders that will enable schools and higher education institution (HEI) partnerships to meet the demands of training the workforce for the 21st Century School.
A pack of support materials and guidance, to enable stakeholders to audit their own practice with a view to determining how each partner uses the partnership to support the individual needs of each organisation will also be produced.
The provision of personalised support for providers and schools to review and develop their partnerships, for example through the TDA’s field forces (eg training schools consultants, provider link advisors and regional advisors).
To ensure that the solutions are supported by and meet the needs of stakeholders, we recommend a phased project approach which builds consultation into the development of solutions.
For further information please e-mail partnership@tda.gov.uk.