Strategic Planning

Delivering improved outcomes for children across all phases

‘The work of Isos Partnership helped re-engage schools and gave Heads the opportunity to shape the future of school to school support in the LA and this is delivering improved outcomes for children across all phases.’
— Barbara Peacock, Director of Children’s and Adults Services, Medway Council

What did we do?

Isos Partnership were engaged by Medway local authority to support them in refocusing their education strategy in the context of a rapidly changing educational landscape. We carried out a review of the data and Medway’s school improvement documentation; interviewed national and local leaders of education (NLEs and LLEs), senior local authority officers and elected members; visited schools and carried out focus groups with primary, secondary and special school headteachers and governors from across the authority.

Based on the broad and robust evidence we collected, we made recommendations to Medway on refocusing their school improvement strategy so as to continue to provide clarity and purpose in the changing environment, maximising the capacity and impact of schools supporting each other to drive improvement, strengthening partnership structures to support inclusion and creating the right platform for holding schools and sponsors to account for outcomes for children.

What difference did we make?

The recommendations for reshaping Medway’s education strategy were welcomed by both the local authority and schools. Isos continued to work with Medway to develop a sharp and action-focused delivery plan to take forward the recommendations of the review. This was adopted by the local authority and is being implemented. The percentage of primary pupils achieving the expected level in English and mathematics, which was a particular focus for improvement, has increased each year for the last two years, and schools and the authority together have a clearer view of the strategy to secure further gains.

What was the feedback on our work?

‘The work of Isos Partnership helped re-engage schools and gave Heads the opportunity to shape the future of school to school support in the LA and this is delivering improved outcomes for children across all phases.’
— Barbara Peacock, Director of Children’s and Adults Services, Medway Council