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Extended Schools and Governors



There are a number of key questions that governors need to ask




  • How does the concept of the extended school fit with our school’s values, vision and aims?

A meeting needs to be convened of the full governing body with the Head Teacher and the link inspector. Useful documentation to circulate prior to that meeting would be the School Improvement Plan, the SEF and school prospectus.

  • What is it that an extended school could deliver that’s different from what we have now?

Governors should make themselves familiar with the local Extended Schools Web site: www.eduwight.gov.uk/schools/extended. This provides a local context as to what is available on the island in terms of providers and support.

  • What are we doing now that is relevant to one or more of the extended schools’ strands?

A useful activity is to look at the School Improvement Plan and cross-reference activities that already meet the extended schools agenda. Contact the Extended Schools consultant for an electronic grid that will facilitate this process.
E-mail: marguerite.howick@iow.gov.uk

  • In our efforts to ensure the best possible education for all our pupils, what gaps in provision have we already identified? Are there unmet community needs that may be impacting on pupil achievement?

Consultation with pupils, parents and the wider community is key to this identification. Governors need to examine the evidence from any consultations carried out.

  • Do we have the resources in our school to meet those needs? (Staff, premises, facilities)

List the resources that you have and those you need. Have a joint governors meeting with other local schools serving the same community. Ask them to prepare the same list and then compare notes. Together you may be able to deliver a range of services for your community.

  • Which strand(s) does it seem appropriate to pursue at this point in time and why?

Once the schools have consulted with the pupils, parents and wider school community they will have a better idea of where they are in respect of the ‘core offer’ and which strands to pursue.

  • Can Workforce Reform be useful in this context?

Yes. As schools express interest in achieving Extended School Status they will be invited to a series of workshops developed by the National Remodelling Team but delivered by local consultants. This ensures that this agenda dovetails into the earlier workforce reform training in which governors may have participated.

  • Could we enhance the chances of success by working in partnership with other schools and/or other agencies?

Absolutely. Look at the local need and it should inform governors of other local schools and agencies with whom they need to work in partnership.

  • How can we work with our local authority/children’s trust on the development of extended services?

Contact the Extended School Consultant: marguerite.howick@iow.gov.uk. Invite her to your meeting.

  • Can we avoid wasteful duplication of services/provision?

Yes, work in small clusters of schools serving the same local community.

  • What is the best means of consulting to ensure that all key stakeholders contribute to decision making?

There are numerous methods of consultation (please see web site) but these have proved most popular: illuminative ‘draw and write’ research; ‘Big Day Out’; open days; parents’ evening; visitors’ comment books in reception areas; questionnaires; online consultation and news letters.

  • What difference could we make to the experiences offered to, and achievement of, our pupils?

By managing extended services successfully and keeping all channels of communication open.

  • How will we know if we’ve got it right?

Knowing where you are now. This is baseline data. Knowing where you want to be in 6 month’s/a year’s time. This will inform your action/business plan and is the development and progress. Knowing who will monitor and evaluate this for you. Building a portfolio of evidence that might include: drawings; photographs; videos; records of meetings; newspaper cuttings; attendance figures etc.

Ask the pupils and they will tell you!



A key message is that we should try to address unmet need or work on services that need to be improved in order to maximise the life chances of our children.
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