Group work in school Formation of a group implementing EFQM

Berufsbildende Schulen des Landkreises Nienburg Location Northern Germany Lower Saxony 50 km north of Hanover 150 km southwest of Hamburg Local town Nienburg 32,000 inhabitants Glass and chemical industry Rural environment

Our School 3,500 students 220 teachers 10 administration staff 2 social workers Full-time courses (five days a week) Part-time courses (one or two days a week) 40 school types 50 courses of professional training school leaving certificates on different levels from basic school leaving certificate to a certificate which entitles access to university

BBS Nienburg Departments Business & Administration, Health Care Mechanics and Automotive Electrical Engineering Construction Technology (building, wood processing, painting) Social Care, Body Care Agriculture, Nutrition, Domestic Science Sixth Form College (providing access to university)

Procedure Step 1 Assessment of the amout of  work  manpower (number of groups)  time

Step 2 Recruitment of colleages from  all seven departments  the staff association  the school management = 32 colleagues

Step 3 Training of this group in  EFQM standards  EFQM procedures by an external management consultant

Step 4 Definition of 13 fields of work for the evaluation  management  school policies and strategies  staff  external partnerships and resources  in-school processes  results (as far as students are concerned)  results (as far as staff is concerned)  results (as far as external stakeholders are concerned  key results

Step 5 Assignment of all 220 colleages to one of the 13 fields of work according to their personal interests and qualifications

Step 6 Self-evaluation of the school  on two days  in all 13 fields of work according to EFQM criteria

Step 6 Advantages of this procedure The school management made sure that all departments are respresented in each field of work. Critical points from the staff could be considered, so that there were no objections to the procedure.

Step 6 The intended mixture of groups with colleagues from all departments (who often do not know each other) contributed to a better identification with the school. The awareness of problems of the school (beyond the own department) was raised.

Step 6 Nearly all groups included members of the school management and all the heads of departments. All detailed questions about school organisation could be answered competently.

Step 6 Basic organisational conditions  There were no students in the school. The groups could concentrate on their evaluation.  The rooms for the group work were well equipped (notebook, beamer, snacks, drinks).  Coffee breaks after two hours and a buffet in the main hall made further exchanges of ideas possible.

Step 7 Results  The groups worked intensively and effectively.  The working atmosphere was stress-free and constructive.  All group members pointed out their interest in the following development of the school.

Step 7 All in all, the group work on EFQM can be regarded as an undoubted success!