School trips to spread best practice

Released 30/03/2010

Government announces organised visits to support schools

Schools Minister Vernon Coaker has announced a new programme to spread educational knowledge and best practice across the country through school-to-school visits.

The 'Inside Knowledge' scheme, will be trialled in a number of schools from April this year. It will allow heads and other school staff to take part in professionally managed visits to local schools that have excellent, cutting-edge practice in five important areas:

narrowing the gap for disadvantaged pupils

sustainability

effective use of assessment data for pupil progress

best practice in pupils' writing at Key Stage 2

managing school budgets effectively to deliver best value.

Local authorities and other stakeholders have been invited to nominate schools that excel in these areas. The schools that are likely be the most effective hosts will be supported to deliver visits from September, with visiting schools able to give constructive feedback on their experience.

Every school in the country will be able to apply to visit a school in its own region, having found out about what's on offer through an online prospectus, booking and feedback system.

Each visit will provide an opportunity for host schools to share their own experiences, and for visitors to learn from the best. Visitors - but also hosts - will gain from sharing the "inside knowledge" that the best schools have already acquired.

The main visits programme will start in September 2010. Before that, the first host schools will trial the programme through structured visits between themselves - starting in April.

Each visit will address a specific topic. An outline agenda is agreed in advance between the host and the seven or so visiting schools (typically two practitioners from each). Visits, typically half a day, will include an opportunity to meet with peers, tour relevant activities and discuss with key staff.

For more information see the School to School website.

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