In this section:
We know that improvements in our schools, colleges and settings will only be achieved where there is strong leadership.
Portsmouth Education Partnership has embarked on a collaborative programme of school improvement which is led by the School Leadership and Effectiveness Board and supported by our work with all stakeholders within the partnership. The work of the board embeds shared values and builds on the historically strong relationships between the local authority and the education sector in Portsmouth, supplementing, without duplicating, work within multi-academy trusts (MATs) and the Teaching School Hubs Council.
The current focus of the School Leadership and Effectiveness Board is to support the implementation of the Portsmouth Education Strategy 2023-2026 and the Priority Education Investment Area programme within Portsmouth.
School improvement and PEP peer review (the 3 Hs)
The School Leadership and Effectiveness Board is working to enable schools to collaborate with each other to support school improvement whether this is through peer review or sharing challenges and good practice.
With over 90% of schools across the Portsmouth Education Partnership now completing the 3Hs document, the School Leadership and Effectiveness Board recognises that school priorities and successes may change over time. Please take the opportunity to update your ‘Highlight, Headache and Horizon’ as appropriate.
Senior leadership
We have established a network for deputy and assistant headteachers across the Portsmouth Education Partnership. This is a forum to support leadership across schools and to secure succession planning.
Termly conferences and twilight sessions allow for inspirational speakers and the supportive sharing of practice.
Presentations from conferences are available to download:
Middle leadership
We continue to support the development of subject networks in the city, particularly in order to provide more support for middle leaders to develop subject knowledge, high-quality curriculum planning and a clear understanding of the importance of sequencing learning in order to improve the quality of education. Other focused work is often on assessment, adaptation and supporting learners from vulnerable groups.
These subject network groups are inclusive of middle leaders within multi-academy trusts and local authority-maintained schools, some being led by practitioners themselves and others by specialists or advisory staff.
More information can be found in each of the subject area pages listed on the Curriculum and CPD page.
Support for governors
Portsmouth City Council (PCC) offers four areas of service to Portsmouth schools and academies:
1. Portsmouth governor briefing sessions
All governors at Portsmouth local authority (LA) maintained schools and academies are warmly invited to attend the half-termly themed governor briefing sessions which cover a range of topics that will be of interest and relevance to governors in Portsmouth.
In 2024 – 25, six governor briefings will be run across the course of the year, all on Microsoft Teams. They will open from 4.45pm for a prompt 5pm start and close at 6pm.
In order to make it easier for governors with particular responsibilities to work out which sessions they can most usefully attend, these will be themed as follows:
- Wednesday 2 October 2024 – school improvement focus, including 2024 results analysis
- Tuesday 26 November 2024 – children’s social care focus
- Thursday 30 January 2025 – focus tbc
- Tuesday 11 March 2025 – SEND, including SEND funding
- Wednesday 14 May 2025 – resources focus, LA maintained schools only
- Thursday 3 July 2025 – focus tbc
To be added to the list to receive invitations to these briefings, please email [email protected].
2. Access to specialist support for governors
This is provided through the Portsmouth National Leader of Governance (NLG) network. An initial consultation is provided free of charge, with follow up work commissioned directly from the relevant NLG. The normal daily rates are around £200-250 per day.
For more information, please see the Portsmouth Traded Services website.
3. Governor recruitment service
School governor and academy trustee positions are advertised on the Hive Portsmouth website. The council has also been running a governor recruitment campaign amongst PCC staff and with partner organisations.
A template advert is available for schools to use. Please email completed templates to [email protected].
4. Signposting to additional sources of support, advice and training
A number of other organisations provide support for school governors on a range of matters on either a free or paid for basis:
- Hampshire Governor Services offers a one-stop shop for training and support for governors in Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton.
- The National Governance Association offers a consultancy and training service which is open to all governing boards in England.
- Solent Governance specialises in working with boards seeking to improve their collective skills to deliver more effective governance. Tailored training packages, as well as pay-as-you-go services, are available. In addition, termly governor induction and refresher training is available for governors to access. Solent Governance offers training, development and support services for all types of schools on a subscription or pay as you go basis.