‘Formal collaboration’ and federations

‘Formal collaboration’ and federations – what makes a successful federation? 

With a view to improving their financial sustainability, several schools within HCC have created formal school collaborative models.

Where models have been most successful, they have been able to utilise resources more efficiently, share expertise, make efficiencies with centralised contract purchasing and utilise premises to their maximum potential.

Where they work less well are where schools have the same challenges and so it is important when considering collaboration that schools are grouped in a way that they will strengthen their position rather than compounding their existing challenges.

Federations with one governing board means several schools can work formally together to improve opportunities for children and ensure sustainability such as:

• better, broader offer for pupils – both curricular and extra-curricular
• shared leadership structure over the schools – each school would not necessarily require a headteacher, and the number of senior leaders would also be reduced
• better recruitment, succession planning and retention of staff
• centralised administration structure across all schools
• collective procurement - economies of scale/value for money for contracts etc
• centralised buildings management – shared premises staff, cleaning contracts/team
• shared SENCO across all schools
• more CPD opportunities for staff
• governance structure across schools – sharing of expertise