Partnership working in small rural primary schools

By Robert Hill, Kelly Kettlewell, Jane Salt

Supporting materials

Download now

CfBT Education Trust (now Education Development Trust) commissioned Robert Hill and the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) to investigate partnership working in small rural primary schools.

The aim of the research was to investigate the most effective ways for small rural primary schools to work together in order to improve provision and raise standards. The project sought to examine the circumstances and context of small rural schools in Lincolnshire and evaluate their different leadership models (such as collaborations, federations, partnerships or academy chains) to:

identify successful approaches to collaboration likely to have a positive impact on pupil achievement
identify barriers to successful collaborative models
understand the role of the local authority in enabling effective partnership
place the Lincolnshire approach in the context of approaches being adopted in other areas in England and best practice in partnership as identified in research literature
identify issues and recommendations for policymakers to consider.

The report provides three sets of ten lessons for schools, policymakers and local authorities.

Robert Hill, supported by NFER researchers, staff at Lincolnshire local authority and the CfBT in-house research team, conducted a detailed analysis of data about the participating schools, four case studies and seven focus group interviews.

As well as the main report of findings there is a secondary report composed of supporting materials which is also available to download.

Downloads

Improving school attendance by fostering a sense of community belonging

Since 2010, school absence rates in England have gradually increased, and were undoubtedly exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite a small decrease in persistent absences from 2022 to 2023, attendance rates have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. In this article, we explore the causes of persistent school absences, and identify promising interventions to ensure more pupils in England consistently attend school.

Article

EDT at the Education World Forum 2023

This month, we were proud to sponsor the Education World Forum (EWF), the world’s largest gathering of education and skills ministers. The London-based conference brought over 140 ministers of education together consider this year’s EWF theme: stronger, bolder, better education by design.

Article

‘Systems Thinking’ – new book released by NORRAG features EDT research

This new book explores the complex challenges around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: to ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’.

Article

EDT shares education expertise at the Schools and Academies Show

Representatives from our programmes in education, leadership development and employability and careers are taking part in the Schools and Academies Show (SAAS) on 17 November at the NEC in Birmingham. Education Development Trust will be engaging with school and sector leaders to discuss challenges in education and explore how we provide support.

Partnership working in small rural primary schools

Robert Hill

Kelly Kettlewell

Jane Salt

Downloads

Partnership working in small rural primary schools

Partnership working in small rural primary schools (supporting materials)

Related Content

Improving school attendance by fostering a sense of community belonging

EDT at the Education World Forum 2023

‘Systems Thinking’ – new book released by NORRAG features EDT research

EDT shares education expertise at the Schools and Academies Show