1. impact schools

2. Impact Schools High-quality, achievement-oriented schools dedicated to providing disadvantaged learners across South Africa with affordable access to high-quality learning that prepares them for success in higher education. © 2008 Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Company Confidential

3. Promise attributes & sector personality © 2008 Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Company Confidential ACHIEVEMENT- ORIENTED Committed to educational excellence that is goal-oriented and objectives- based ACCESSIBLE Affordable to ensure access by high-potential learners from disadvantaged communities CATALYTIC Focused on promoting sectorwide improvement of educational quality in all South African schools INNOVATIVE Intended to break new ground by coming up with new ways to achieve disproportionate learning for disadvantaged students COOPERATIVE Committed to sharing what works with one another and with government ACCOUNTABLE Focused on measurement and transparent reporting of student results to ensure continuous improvement SUSTAINABLE Supported by the government and funded through a combination of public, private and charitable resources PROMISE High-quality Purposeful Performance- oriented High-quality Purposeful Performance- oriented Equal- opportunity Affordable Community- based Equal- opportunity Affordable Community- based Impactful Far-reaching Impactful Far-reaching Pioneering Creative Pioneering Creative Collaborative Coordinated Replicable Collaborative Coordinated Replicable Disciplined Transparent Disciplined Transparent Scalable Dependable Resilient Scalable Dependable Resilient PERSONALITY What We Heard from You

4. Sector Impact Impact schools seek to spark the development of a sustainable South African ecosystem of affordable, high-quality, high-performing, achievement-oriented schools for disadvantaged learners. © 2008 Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Company Confidential

5. Disadvantaged Learner impact Impact schools provide disadvantaged learners with access to high-quality learning experiences that prepare them for success in higher education. © 2008 Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Company Confidential

6. The Vision Impact schools provide disadvantaged learners with high-quality educations. Impact schools are dedicated to ensuring each disadvantaged learner’s ongoing academic growth. Impact schools work harder, often employing extended day/extended year format of instruction, in order to change the trajectory of their disadvantaged learners’ lives. Impact schools prepare disadvantaged learners for higher education. Impact schools are affordable to low income families. © 2008 Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Company Confidential

7. Are you ready to call yourself an impact school? © 2008 Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Company Confidential If so, please amend your email signature as soon as you get back to the office: Kristin O’Sullivan External Relations Manager LEAP Science and Maths School Proud member of the impact schools sector And please start tweeting with: #impactschools

8. Backup © 2008 Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Company Confidential

9. Sector promise Impact schools are committed to the collaborative development of standards and best practices to ensure sectorwide improvement. Impact schools pioneer new funding models that combine public and charitable resources for sustainability. Impact schools advocate for policy change, seeking recognition as government schools that deliver extraordinary results in exchange additional resources and additional operating freedoms. © 2008 Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Company Confidential

10. Naming Research T3 and the Jupiter Drawing Room commissioned research company TNS to assist in gathering research on behalf of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF) in their initiative to identify a unique name for what is currently referred to as “Third Sector Schools” in South Africa. TNS interviewed 24 government and private stakeholders in the education space during June and July of 2012. Further research was undertaken by The Jupiter Drawing Room to gain an understanding among those who currently work in education reform, specifically those involved in the South African Extraordinary Schools Coalition (SAESC). Ten stakeholders were interviewed. While members of SAESC were familiar with the concept of Third Sector Schools, most interviewees in the Private and Government Sectors struggled to define or understand this concept — often questioning if the initiative was private public, a combination or neither. 10

11. Research Summary The term “Third Sector Schools” was tested to set a baseline for both groups. Respondents within the Private and Government Sectors felt that the name had a bad connotation and did not say anything about the kind of schools that make up the sector. Alternatively, the term was perceived as neutral by SAESC respondents. Based on feedback from the collective groups, there was no clear-cut “winner,” however a set of names did score higher than the baseline of “Third Sector Schools” and resonated more during the qualitative discussions with respondents. Names from this group should be considered. Because the concept behind these schools is unfamiliar, a name alone will not be able to fully define the concept. However, selecting a name will put a stake in the ground and provide the first step toward truly defining this initiative. 11

12. Research Summary Eleven names were tested across all stakeholder groups. The names are intended to define the category, currently termed “third sector schools.” Interviewees: – Private and Government stakeholders (24 total) – Education stakeholders (10 total) There is general consensus around certain names, with different preferences as to what the name conveys: – Private/Government:Slightly prefer aspirational names – Educational:Slightly prefer functional names What one group likes in a name, the other group tends to criticize. Of these groups, weighting should favor Private/Government that represent funding sources over the perspectives of the Education community. 12

13. Negative connotations Raises eyebrows Uncomfortable with the word “third sector”. Negative connotation, think 3 rd class on the train, 3 rd class citizens. Bad name, 3 rd rate something. Sounds like 1 st and 2 nd sector are better and 3 rd sector at the bottom. Discriminatory, in a country with a constitution that advocates for equality. Suggests focus only on a specific group of people. Suggests that learners belonging to these schools are more advantaged than others. Sounds inferior. Sounds like schools that are low in the ranks. Understood only by those within the sector Impersonal name, suggests an alternative sector, but doesn’t tell people anything. Not necessarily positive, but people in the sector understand it. Says nothing to someone outside the sector. Technically accurate but open to misinterpretation by people outside the sector. South Africans do not think sectors when talking about schools. People speak of government/private sectors and schools are not associated with sectors. Other sectors? Implies that the there is a first and second sector. If so what are they? Sounds like 1 st and 2 nd sector are better. Suggests that these schools are not part of the schooling system, only targets certain learners. Reactions Toward Third Sector Schools Key Concern: Has a bad connotation and it doesn’t say anything about the kind of schools that make up the sector. 13

14. Private Sector/Government Positive, demonstrates change. Accurately describes what the sector tries to achieve. Shows that they are in a process of making a difference or changing. Suggests that these schools are going to make an impact on something. Private Sector/Government Discriminatory, suggests that schools outside the sector are not impactful. Too objectives-driven. Education not just about objectives. Would have to define what impact is talked about. Impact on what/whom? Doesn’t say anything. Not relevant to a public private partnership, could be anybody. Doesn’t belong in education, says nothing about high-quality education. Maybe if we were trying to name sports, doesn’t apply here. SAESC Exactly what the schools are about. Very descriptive — the logic behind the name is sound. Making an impact on young minds. Ties in nicely with the overall objective. Clear, goal-oriented and objectives-based. SAESC Not sure if the schooling element is strong enough. Sounds too everyday. Prefacing it with “positive” since it doesn’t describe what kind of impact these schools are likely to have. Doesn’t stand out. Impact Schools Key Concerns: Discriminatory — suggests that schools outside the sector are not impactful. Is the name education-specific enough and will it achieve standout? Reactions Toward Impact Schools

15. Private Sector/Government Governing body called the alliance, might be associated with that in the government sector. Would have to define what is meant by an alliance school and build brand around that. Confusing. Not always clear where the alliances are. Alliance with whom? Open to individual interpretation, not accurate enough. Private Sector/Government Most accurate as it speaks to a private/public partnership, which is essentially what the schools are comprised of. SAESC Speaks of co-operation and partnership of government and private sector. Like the relational aspect of the name. There are some US schools with this name, but it is a positive thing. Team spirit and sharing of skills and experience. Sounds optimistic and will hopefully encourage governmental cooperation. SAESC Doesn’t capture key focus of the schools. Suggests a convergence of thought which isn’t necessarily healthy. Confusing. Not always clear where the alliances are. Alliance with whom? Open to individual interpretation, not accurate enough. Alliance Schools Key Concerns: Does not communicate what the category is about (not education specific enough). Reactions Toward Alliance Schools

16. SAESC Talks to something new. Aspirational, neutral word. Like the link to sunrise and things coming closer. It is clear, forward looking and optimistic. Private/Government No divisional / separational connotation. Aspirational, neutral word. Not exclusionary of anyone. Visionary, says we not where we need to be yet but we working on it. Futuristic, not based on boxing people, history or ideologies. Focuses on moving forward, schools of the future. Sets a good tone as where education in South Africa should be headed. Positive, signals that there is another phase for education on the horizon. Private/Government Already exists as a name for certain schools. Suggests something that is unattainable. Run of the mill, nothing exciting about it. Better than the others though. Doesn’t describe the type of schools in terms of their target groups and what they are about. Says nothing about the schools’ philosophy. It’s a non-action word that doesn’t mention quality or the partnership between the public and private sectors. SAESC Can’t see the conceptual link. Doesn’t link to the education sector. Nice name for a school, not for the sector/category as a whole. Talks about people looking in the same direction and not looking in all directions. Something that is far away and that one never quite catches. Key Concerns: Vague, doesn’t capture the essence of what the schools are. Horizon Schools Reactions Toward Horizon Schools

17. Third Sector schools 311563633421552111133252 2.88 Horizon411874554437987346583255 4.926 Schools of Excellence 311554423285186387157481 4.255 Academies of Excellence 221754428557994677457498 5.463 Momentum511263475312187227263267 3.882 Alliance211746444635162236346741 3.832 Impact311665283316767278175471 4.461 Path521164555662774236263641 4.131 Spark411674464423265219136247 3.921 Collaboration511145435441284236175571 3.71 Progress511164455361685216224441 3.63 Unity311374413156961234414641 3.50 Quantitative View: Private/Government Sector Interviews AverageFirst choice Government Ratings Private Sector Ratings NB: Three respondents could not choose any of the names as their first choice. Ranked based on number of times chosen first. 17 Top box (7 thru 10) Bottom box (1and 2)

18. Quantitative View: SAESC Interviews Average rating lower than 3rd Sector Schools 18 *Respondent rated both names as their favorite Top box (7 thru 10) Bottom box (1and 2)