Inspired Planning SDPI Summer School 23 rd August

Inspired Planning SDPI Summer School 23 rd August 2006 Inspired Planning Workshop 0

Inspired Planning Theme: Keeping Ethos at the heart of SDP q What we mean by Ethos/Characteristic Spirit q Cultivating Ethos - Ideal. v. Actual Ethos q Reviewing and Evaluating Ethos q Accounting for Ethos 1

Inspired Planning Defining Ethos (Characteristic Spirit) q Ethos arises from the Inspiration, Purpose and Core Values of Founders q Ethos is shaped by § § Founders History Context Staff (especially successive leaders) 2

Inspired Planning Elements of Ethos Inspiration Ethos Characteristic Spirit Core Purpose Core Values 3

Inspired Planning The Education Act states that the Characteristic Spirit of a school is determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school Art 15. 2. b 4

Inspired Planning The Board of Management is required to uphold the Characteristic Spirit of the school How does your Board strive to uphold the Characteristic Spirit of the school? What deliberate steps are taken, at any level, to uphold the Characteristic Spirit of the school? 5

The Characteristic Spirit is embodied in Your Mission Statement Inspired Planning Why have a Mission Statement ? A Mission Statement can be a source of energy and life for all 6

Inspired Planning The Mission Statement …. . ü …expresses the core purpose of the school, its vision for the development of the human person ü …sets out the values to which the school is committed and which the school seeks to embody in its policies and practices and in its relationships with all who make up the school community ü ü …is an inspiration to all in the school community …is a reminder to all of the ultimate goals of the school …is the means by which the school wishes to be judged …must be at the heart of School Development Planning 7

Inspired Planning The Mission Statement … can be represented by its Inspiration underlying Core Values Ethos Characteristic Spirit Purpose Values e. g. Respect: We respect the unique and intrinsic value of every person Core Values are a small number of central and enduring principles which guide all aspects of our behaviour and decision-making 8

Inspired Planning Summarising Mission Statement: Core Values Exercise 1 § What are the Core Values of your Mission Statement? Core Values are a small number of central and enduring principles which guide all aspects of our behaviour and decision-making e. g. Respect: We respect the unique and intrinsic value of every person 9

Inspired Planning Mission Statement - Core Values One family, Inspired to learn 10

Inspired Planning Mission Statement - Core Values One family, Each member unique, Each inspired to learn, develop and act in light of Gospel values 11

Inspired Planning The Core Values of the Mission Statement represent our aspirations The day-to-day reality on the ground may be quite different Concept of Mission Integrity The extent to which the daily practice of the school actually embodies its core values 12

Inspired Planning Cultivating Mission Integrity Two Key Steps: How do you …… Step 1: Identify, Promote & Review Core Values? Step 2: Review & Evaluate Integrity to Core Values 13

Inspired Planning Step 1 Identify, Promote & Review Core Values Exercise 1 § Identifying the Core Values of your school (See Ex. 3) Exercise 2 a § Promoting the Core Values Exercise 2 b § Reviewing the Mission Statement & Core Values 14

Inspired Planning Step 2 Review and Evaluation in light of Core Values Review & Evaluation are vital to SDP REMEMBER: If you don’t review & evaluate what YOU value, you will come to value only whatever others review & evaluate 15

Inspired Planning Why? Mission Statement What? How? Action is needed to turn the aspirations of the Mission Statement into reality 16

Inspired Planning Why? Characteristic Spirit What? Vision SDP How? The process of School Development Planning moves the school closer to its Vision 17

Inspired Planning Vision is ……. . a combination of……… q The organisation’s fundamental reason for being (Core Purpose) q Its timeless and unchanging Core Values q The Goals it sets for implementation (short-term and long-term) Purpose Values Vision Goals (SDP) An organisation with Vision becomes truly Visionary when it creates alignment between the three elements of Vision. While the Core Purpose and Core Values never change, they do inspire change. A deep understanding of Core Purpose and Core Values is vital to the well-being of any organisation. Review and Evaluation are essential to ensure alignment. 18

Inspired Planning Do you have a clear Review process? How does your school establish development targets each year …… and at what levels of school life? SDPI Guidelines have much to offer Need for Review Exercises that focus on Core Values 19

Inspired Planning Exercise 3 § Review Areas of School Life. v. Core Values Exercise 4 § Designing for Improvement Grid 20

Inspired Planning Other Possibilities for Cultivating Core Values q Develop Value Themes by Term or Half-Term q Develop Value Themes for each Year Group q Core Values Feedback Card q Critical Incident Analysis and Core Values q LAOS Excel Grid q Develop a list of behaviours that promote the values … for staff, students and parents …. . What cultivates and promotes …. ? …. . what inhibits or erodes? 21

Inspired Planning Evaluating against Core Values Exercise 5 How are the Core Values reflected in the § Rationale, Goals and Content of school Policies? § Aims, Structures, Reporting Mechanisms and Outcomes of school programmes? § Aims, Implementation Strategies, Reporting mechanisms and Outcomes of management structures and other action projects? 22

Inspired Planning The Board of Management is … … accountable to the patron (Trustees) for upholding the Characteristic Spirit of the school. How does your Board give an account of its integrity to Core Values to the Trustees? How do the Trustees engage with you about it? 23

Inspired Planning Giving an Account of Integrity to Mission q q Who gives an account to Whom? Internal. v. External Accounts What kind of account? Simple. v. Justifying Accounts q SDP Annual Report should have a strong focus on integrity to Core Values 24

Inspired Planning in Action! 25