1. Blenheim Communities of Schools (2BCoS)
A Community of Learning comprising 21 schools

2. Establishment Processes 1
Marlborough’s unique history of collaboration
The opportunity to extend this work into a system change
Genuine enthusiasm & tension in exploring the IES policy

3. Establishment Processes 2
Lots of Discussion/Talk
17 Principals met - January 2015
Formation of the working party - 7 Principals
Advised the 4 schools who had not signed an EoI that public consultation was planned

4. Establishment Processes 3
Identification and presentations to key stakeholders
Meetings with parents, whanau and aiga, teachers, Principals, BoTs
Briefing meetings as to what we needed with MoE, NZSTA …
Foundation Stage - planning and building the vision
Principals & Kindergarten Manager - individually, clusters, School Visits.
Government & social agencies - Marlborough District Council, Attendance Services
Union Representatives
Data analysis leading to identification of challenges - importance of MoE support

5. Achievement Challenges
Literacy and Numeracy (ORs, Boys, Maori, Pasifika)
Reaching the Standard
Underachievement (Boys, Girls, Gifted & Talented, Pasifika, Maori)
At the standard, to reach potential
Well-Being kete (Health, Engagement (attendance), Retention)

6. 2BCoS Structure

7. Foundation Stage - planning and building the vision
Shaping and building commitment to the vision
Supporting Principals and Schools to understand the ‘positional’ adjustments of being part of a community of learning
Supporting Principal leadership to grow teacher capability and capacity. Initial focus on Spirals of Inquiry
Working in collaboration with NZSTA to develop employment processes, developing our understanding of the differences between the collective agreements
Planning orientation and induction of our teams - Across and Within

8. Common Annual Plan Goal for all 21 schools
“ xxx school is committed to working collaboratively in support of the regional achievement challenges identified by the 2BCoS”.

9. 2BCoS Charter Vision: Learners collaborating for success. Values:
Relationships - networks of mutual trust
Communication - open to learning
Respect - for all
Goals:
Responsive to the needs of all learners.
Foster learner wellbeing, agency, advocacy and resilience.
Innovating ‘next’ practice.
Strengthen learner capacity, capability and collective efficacy.
Raise all student achievement.

10. Plan A and Plan B

11. Lessons Learned Think fast! Act slow!
The work takes time - spend the time on people and building the relationships. Doing it with - not to!
The importance of Principals being key communicators in their schools. Support for new Principals / Principals new to the district.
The importance of the COL structures and regular meetings (for a length of time - time to pose the challenges / make the decisions with our Colleagues).
Be aware of ‘momentum lag’
Staff and / or community may not own it as much as you - be aware and work to address their ‘worries’.
Enable others. Different schools / venues for different presentations with different presenters

12. Lessons Learned
Achievement Challenges - Wide in Scale - Narrow in focus
Involve all CoL Principals when making the decisions re allocation of CoL distributed roles (as opposed to school allocated)
Appoint across school lead teachers ahead of the within school positions. Develop Protocols
Across School Lead Teachers - can and want to work at pace - be ready for them
Within School Lead Teachers - wider spread - critical to meet/guide/provide clarity to develop middle leadership in schools
Liaise with MoE - particularly SAFs
Once you are a CoL every agency wants to work with you - schedule one meeting and invite all local agencies / interested groups
Utilise the Ministry personnel (CoL Liaison and data) and educational experts
Pool your $1000 every year - one fund holder

13. The Possibilities -
Whakatauki… ‘Whiria te ākonga’ - Weave learners together
Working collaboratively beyond the achievement challenges e.g. developing the ‘vision for learning’ underpinning the co-location of the two secondary schools
Imagine future developments
Tertiary linkages
PLD for ‘learning assistants’
Links with other CoLs
Imagine a school system where there is no blame! But shared ownership and solutions being sought.

14. Lessons Learned - CoL Leaders
Start writing / capturing the story - use different mediums
The work takes more than the two days - s, phone calls, media, your colleagues, teachers …..they don’t recognise the two days you have been allocated
Look after yourself - it is difficult work, hard work…. We are lucky in the co-lead structure
Remember everyday you are breaking new ground
It is exhilarating, it is challenging, it is exciting, it is fun!