How can state and private schools work closer together to help share ideas, best practice and expertise?
It is a question often asked in education circles, and one that Eton College has been keen to try to answer over the years - perhaps most notably in 2014 when we became educational sponsor of Holyport College.
At the time, the school was something of a Petri dish for how such models could work: a new state boarding school, opening under the government’s flagship free schools programme with a curriculum predicated on a broadly “traditionalist” view of education combined with character education, catering for an eclectic and diverse range of students with a broad range of needs and ambitions.
Working in partnership
Since then, the success of Holyport College stands as testament to what can be achieved when the best aspects of both sectors come together for the common good - and what was once referred to as a “sponsorship” has now grown into a partnership.
As an example of this ongoing work, Holyport College has this week officially established its own Centre for Innovation and Research in Learning (CIRL) - drawing on lessons learned by Eton’s own Tony Little CIRL, which opened eight years ago.
Both centres primarily focus on professional development, offering a range of collaborative activities. These include hosting the Research and Evidence Forum, conducting webinars on online teaching and learning, and sharing valuable resources.
The work ahead
Additionally, collaborative training programmes in coaching for teaching and learning have been initiated, and discussions are ongoing regarding mutual support in teacher training.
Another vital aspect is equipping students with essential skills during their time at school and as they transition to their next endeavours. Together, we will research character, life skills and employability.
An ongoing project centred around the integration of technology in the classroom is also under way. By evaluating the impact of one-to-one devices in both schools, meaningful and contextually relevant findings can be obtained.
Finally, a noteworthy achievement earlier this year was the publication of a joint journal, which displayed the remarkable work conducted by the centres in collaboration with teachers from both schools. The next edition will be available here.
Building more collaborations
This collaborative endeavour through the two CIRLs is a first step in a wider plan for collaborations and partnerships, not least with Eton bidding to open three new free school sixth forms with Star Academies in Dudley, Oldham and Teesside.
All the schools in the growing Eton network will contain a CIRL too and benefit from the existing work with Holyport.
This wider network will create a collegiate culture of professional development across the partnership, providing regular, structured opportunities for professional dialogue, especially through a network of teaching and learning “lead practitioners” in each school.
The CIRLs will offer professional networks and shared programmes for professional development and produce research outputs for use by others seeking to set up deep and enduring partnerships that everyone in the sector can learn from and emulate.
What we are proving is that, despite differences, private-state school partnerships can be deeply rewarding in so many ways: the cross-fertilisation of ideas, practices and expertise; the dismantling of unhelpful preconceptions; professional development through open dialogue; understanding of shared values; improvements in pupils’ knowledge and skills; and the widening of student and staff horizons.
There is tremendous power in these partnerships.
Adam Bicknell is deputy head (academic) at Holyport College. Jonnie Noakes is director of teaching and learning at Eton College
