Agenda for Primary Summer Term SIP Visit

I have decided to send this second MI communication relating to the Summer Term SIP Agenda to re-draw your attention to the content of MI 79/09 which remains unchanged since its issue last week. Unfortunately a headteacher, in responding to an e mail from an adviser, inadvertently, I presume, copied his personal views to the e mail list "all headteachers" and this has led to some confusion for some schools.

Our approach to the review of school improvement with the SIP and the distribution of the Annual Commentary to the Governing Body are drawn from national guidance (National Primary Strategies/National College for School Leadership) and best practice shared with local authority SIP managers at regional meetings. This national and regional guidance also underpins the priority we give to school improvement.

The fantastic improvement in Norfolk primary schools performance in inspections is clearly down to the excellence of the work going on in the vast majority of schools. We know that this has been well supported by an open and trusting approach to the school's self-evaluation complemented by an external perspective through, previously the RDA and now the SIP. A key part of the changed levels of confidence in the system has been the greater involvement of governors and enabling them to understand the performance of their school. The involvement of the SIP, in presenting their annual summary report to governors, has been discussed previously by the Director and Deputy Director with headteacher and governor representatives. The agenda for each SIP visit is discussed with a primary SIP Steering Group which has representation from headteachers and governors.

I hope that this helps clarify the importance we place on this open dialogue about school performance and helps draw governors more centrally into the process.

I am sorry that the e mail caused confusion for some headteachers, if you need any further discussion on this matter please contact: Heather Tyrrell - (Senior Development Adviser) or Chris Snudden - (Head of primary school Improvement) at the Norwich Professional Development Centre.

FRED CORBETT
(Deputy Director of Children's Services)