Education Durham is a school support and improvement team established for more than 25 years as part of Durham local authority. It offers evidence-based, consistent, high-quality support for leaders and staff at every level in schools, academies, and other educational institutions regionally, nationally, and internationally.
What we offer
We offer a full range of support which can be accessed through our Partner SLA. In acknowledgement that one-size does not fit all we also will build bespoke SLAs on request. During times when demands on limited funding are increasing, it is hoped that this approach will enable our partners to purchase services varying from light-touch to intensive, with confident assurance of value for money.
The team you will be working with has a proven track record and can respond to specific and detailed requests across a wide range of training and development needs. All remain fully skilled and up to date with education and inspection developments, and the team includes those with direct leadership experience, including head teacher experience, and national and international experience and accreditation of delivering CPD to the highest professional standards.
Each SLA is offered annually to schools, academies and other institutions, and generally runs over a financial year 1 April to 31 March.
Restrictions
Partners cannot invite staff from non-partner schools to attend training arranged through the SLA.
Full Partner
Full leadership and curriculum support programme – access to a full year-round programme of face-to-face and virtual professional learning, published in advance and constantly updated as local and national priorities emerge. A service level agreement allows schools to book a single place on courses and events included in the SLA at no additional charge (these courses are identified in the training directory). This will also include a selection of pre-recorded courses. Full partner schools can also access chargeable courses at a reduced partner rate.
Content from evidence-based national and international perspectives is delivered by acknowledged educational specialists mainly in linked series of professional learning events. Termly subject networks, covering the entire curriculum, are sequential and thematically linked. SLA holders have discounted rates and early-bird access for all other Education Durham projects, conferences, and events.
In-school support–10 hours of tailored in-school support. This can include visits from Leadership Advisers and in school support work from the Support & Development team. Some courses will be identified as being able to be delivered in-school. This would take 3 of the above contract hours and could be used either on an inset day or via 2 staff meetings. Further details on how these hours could be used are available via the Education Durham contract brochure.
Once a school has used their allocated SLA allowance, they are able to purchase additional hours at a reduced rate (details available on request).
Head Teacher Performance Management – 3 hours from an experienced Leadership Adviser who will support the governing body to carry out HT performance management, helping them to review your performance and to set appropriate challenging targets for the forthcoming year.
Leadership briefings – At least termly briefings for head teachers and deputies.
Ofsted readiness – Support and advice is on hand prior to Ofsted visits and during inspection. This includes on-site support if appropriate, at no additional cost.
Appointments – Support with Senior Leader appointments from an experienced adviser, either using available hours of in-school support (above) or additional purchase of hours as required (service not available to organisations without this SLA).
Attendance and Inclusion– in addition to a termly event highlighting local and national priorities, SLA holders can access additional support with managing and improving attendance, including advice/guidance relating to statutory duties. Attendance reviews are available to Partners of this SLA at a reduced charge.
CPD Conversation – a one-hour online conversation on request to explore the current CPD offer and how to align it with your current CPD needs. Advisers will support you in developing CPD for your school based around your identified priorities.
Some support components are available to SLA holders but at an additional cost: examples – Health checks; Educational Visits Co-ordinator training; Safer Recruitment.