School Budgets

Individual school budgets must be sufficient for their purpose and should take account of the whole range of educational needs existing in our schools. The management of the budget should be the responsibility of the school, ensuring that resources are focussed clearly and directly at the schools priorities. Flexibility should exist so that school leaders can respond to both pupil and community priorities.

Staffing of Schools

The staffing of our schools should be part of the responsibility given to school leaders whether through Boards of Governors, School Managers or through Leadership teams. The appointment of staff is a crucial function of school management in leading schools to successful outcomes for pupils. Through having responsibility for staffing, schools can set the tone and direction they see is right for their pupils and community. Responsibility for staffing can ensure a balance of provision which in turn helps maintain high achievement. National Education Departments are challenged to ensure a constant flow of well qualified and motivated teachers are there for schools to select from.

Curriculum Development

Although many countries have National Curriculum Requirements, the implementation of the curriculum must be in the hands of our school leaders and teachers. The weightings, pace and rhythm given to the curriculum should be allowed to be set by individual institutions. This will help address the different needs and requirements that both school communities and individual pupils have.

Accountability

This is a natural consequence of autonomy and should serve to help schools maintain high standards in both efficiency and achievement. Whilst accountability is welcomed, this should be informative and constructive and lead to school improvement. Accountability should not set school in competition with school or be used to demoralise and undermine by the use of league tables. Schools should be supported when in need and be praised when successful. Accountability should reflect the progress school have made in adding value to the lives and learning of their pupils and not simply be based on test results.

With true autonomy schools could:

• be freer from bureaucratic interference and imposition.
• be more transparent with school leaders both trusted and challenged in their role.
• more consistent in addressing pupil needs.
• provide a higher quality of opportunity for all our students.