Schools Publications

Dr Linda Hammersley-Fletcher of Staffordshire University has recently completed a Staffordshire LA-funded research project looking at the remodelling and workforce reform programme in their schools. This research reports the dilemmas faced by schools in engaging in this process and indicates some of the variety of approaches schools are taking. It also highlights the need for schools to think beyond the legislative demands of the reform agenda.

There are a number of key criteria that can be seen as important to promote successful workforce remodelling and involve change that is an organic part of school development.

• Creating a culture of clear and open communication is essential if all staff are to understand and take part in re-modelling processes.

• Workforce remodelling has clear links to notions of distributed leadership and is equally variable in its practice and this is clearly linked to the positioning and perspectives of the headteacher.

• The success of workforce remodelling relies upon the whole staff taking ownership of school change, development and improvement.

• Successful remodelling draws on the expertise of all staff within the school and involves everyone in ongoing reflective practices.

• Schools must realise that workforce remodelling involves ongoing discussions, negotiations and change to meet ever changing circumstances and that it is not simply about imposing legislative dictates.

The report is divided into a number of sections. Following the executive summary there is a detailed literature review developing a background to the processes of remodelling, change theories and the links between distributed leadership and workforce remodelling. The findings are divided into four sections. The first looks at practices of workforce remodelling in the schools visited as part of the research. The second section looks at this practice in the light of the impact of local authority initiatives and support. The following section considers how change has come about and how this relates to what we know about change through the academic literature. The fourth section considers the issue of sustainability comparing the practices in the schools looked at and projections about the future. Conclusions are presented followed by recommendations for future LA practice.

We feel that this publication will be of great interest to local authorities and teachers throughout the UK

Please complete this section if you would like to obtain a copy of the report

I attach a cheque for £5.20 made payable to ‘Staffordshire University’

Name and full postal address (block capitals please)

Return to: Emma Berndt, Institute for Education Policy Research, Staffordshire University, Room B284, Brindley Building, Leek Road Campus, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 2DF