2008/9
In January 2008, The Prince’s Teaching Institute ran a half-day seminar in collaboration with Business In The Community entitled What Works In Schools, at which twelve Heads from secondary schools in and around London were present. The delegates at the seminar came to the conclusion that the following attributes were essential in running a good school:
- Good leadership
- Creating a culture of achievement
- Having high quality subject teachers
- Providing rich extra-curricular activities
To ensure continued success, they highlighted two areas:
- The need to disseminate best practice
- The need to develop Heads of the future
Those attending the day deemed it very successful, and encouraged The Prince’s Teaching Institute to run a larger seminar on a pilot basis, with wider participation by successful Heads from across the country, and the intention to explore whether there is potential for holding similar events in the future. In follow-up discussions, the Heads expressed the view that it was also important to use such a conference to address some questions fundamental to the future of education, such as:
- What can be learned from the past?
- How can education retain coherence and rigour?
- Are we meeting the challenge for all pupils?
- How can we learn from other schools?
- How can we create more effective partnerships?
- How can current obstacles be overcome?
The Prince's Teaching Institute therefore organised a seminar in December 2008, bringing together successful secondary Heads from across the country to debate these questions:
What works in schools?
- How can we replicate success?
In seeking areas of consensus in answer to these questions, the day was designed to lead to conclusions that provide insight and practical guidance to others.
The participating Heads reached general agreement on many of the issues raised, and expressed a strong feeling that The Prince’s Teaching Institute should hold further Heads’ seminars of this kind, and that the conclusions of the day’s discussions should be disseminated.
These conclusions are contained in the pamphlet published on the 19th May 2009, that is available below:
What Works in Schools Pamphlet [635KB]
The Full Report of the Seminar can be downloaded below:
What Works in Schools Full Report [202KB]
To order a printed copy of the full report (£10 per copy) please email patrick.wigg@princes-ti.org.uk.