What role do school networks play in effective knowledge mobilisation?

City Hall, London

What evidence is there that the growing numbers of school networks, ranging from the Specialist Schools and Academy Trust, Challenge Partners and Future Leaders to Pedagoo and TeachMeet, have real impact? The wide spread of such groups, from national bodies to grassroots organisation, indicates a frontline appetite. However, as was seen at the recent Education Select Committee session on school-to-school support, evidence of their impact remains limited.

A conference on 19 February, organised by The London Leadership Strategy and CEBE, sought to explore the role of these networks in effective knowledge mobilisation. It considered a range of key questions with the aim of:

  • helping networks of practice develop their thinking and practice to become more effective in knowledge mobilisation
  • considering the role of these networks in taking ‘what works’ to scale
  • informing public and social policy in relation to school-to-school support and self-improving systems and
  • considering how best to evaluate the role of networks of practice in using research evidence to improve outcomes for children and young people and explore how to best support networks that are doing this work well

Supported by the GLA, and working with Whole Education, Teacher Development Trust and Challenge Partners, this event – chaired by Dr Jonathan Sharples of the Education Endowment Foundation and the Institute for Effective Education at the University of York – offered an opportunity for researchers, heads, policy makers and networks to discuss what works and to consider areas for development. The conference included input from the London Leadership Strategy, from John Tomsett, Headteacher at Huntington School in York, member of the Headteachers' roundtable and lead of the Ebor Teaching School Alliance R&D group, and from NHS colleagues facing similar challenges in knowledge mobilisation. The event was a great success with more than 70 people attending.