Announcing the launch of a project to bring together best practice in school science partnerships – read on for your invitation to contribute (and click here to upload your contribution).
Crocodiles and birds would seem unlikely friends. But their symbiotic relationship means that they can do something together which they cannot do on their own. The Nile crocodile feeds the Plover bird whilst getting its teeth cleaned. We call it mutualism. So it is with school partnerships, at least those which are genuinely mutually beneficial. Something amazing is achieved by schools working together which cannot be achieved by a school on its own.
There’s sometimes nervousness around working with other schools – or indeed universities or industrial partners; the bird in the picture might well sympathise! But as relationships develop and trust deepens, synergies emerge and, well, ultimately, it’s the children in our schools who benefit.
School partnerships which bring long-lasting two-way impact have been the focus of the Schools Together Group, a grass-roots organisation established in 2016 for those with a professional interest in school partnerships. The Schools Together Group has already produced two publications celebrating partnerships in music and university access: All Together Now and The Missing Two Thousand. We are at the start of creating the next: on school science partnerships.
Why did we choose to focus on science next? There are three main reasons:
- In real life scientists work together in teams, across international borders and scientific disciplines – think of Covid vaccine development or landing vehicles on Mars. Science is a collaborative activity. We need to show children how we work together in science.
- There already exist some exemplary science partnerships between schools, colleges and universities, between different phases and sectors, and within networks such as multi-academy trusts. These are sometimes supported by industry, institutes and charitable bodies and associations. We want to showcase examples of sustained, impactful practice to inspire more partnership activity.
- Science education is under strain, and partnerships can help:
- Recruitment and retainment – how can we improve what will be a worsening situation as the labour pool shrinks, especially in specialisms such as physics?
- Teacher development – subject knowledge enhancement, sharing good practice in curriculum design, pedagogy and implementation. How do schools/trusts do this successfully?
- Careers education – how are schools meeting Gatsby benchmarks by offering effective employer interactions with students?
We would like to bring these challenges to the attention of those who can make decisions at the highest level, demonstrate the power of partnerships to help to address the challenges and call for support in facilitating these solutions.
The conversations around and contributions towards this publication will be a valuable process in itself. From an initial round table discussion in September with over 25 experienced science partnership leaders, we have begun to shape how a useful end-product might look. As well as some thought-pieces on overarching themes aimed at policy-makers and educational leaders, it will also serve as a how-to guide to successful partnership working for practitioners.
We want readers to be able to view partnerships by type, for example:
- Independent-state school partnerships
- State school clusters, trusts and networks
- Primary-Secondary
- Schools and industry
- Schools and HE
But also by format, for example:
- Science festivals
- Peer-mentoring
- Saturday school
- Research projects
And by purpose, for example:
- Enhancing teaching
- Enrichment beyond the curriculum
- Raising Careers awareness
- Supporting disadvantaged learners
If you agree that working together in powerful school science partnerships can lead to better outcomes in school science, you may be able to help.
Your ideas and experience could contribute to this publication that will speak to local and national science education leaders about how partnerships can benefit all involved.
We’d like to hear from you if:
- You have experience of strategic partnerships that demonstrate impact between: state school networks, state and independent schools or schools and industry or other organisations.
- You have experience of evidence based approaches or previous studies that link collaboration between schools and other organisations to tangible benefits. For example, the TCAT/United Utilities partnership has led to increased uptake of sciences at A level.
- You have ideas of how we could support others strategically to plan partnerships at a national and local level.
- You are able to contribute to a debate on the challenges over the coming years in science education – and some partnership solutions.
Comment below or get in touch with either of us if you’d like to be part of this, or click here to submit your contribution. Thank you.
Co-Editors:
Christina Astin (Education Consultant specialising in science and partnerships and Founder-Chair of The Schools Together Group) @ChristinaAstin
and Chris Hillidge (Director of STEM at The Challenge Academy Trust, Director of Warrington FabLab) @ChrisHillidge
