The Black Country local area improvement strategy works with schools, local authorities and education stakeholders to support primary and secondary schools across the four local authorities that make up the Black Country: Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
The strategy aims to:
- tackle underperformance in primary and secondary schools
- close the attainment gap between pupils from more deprived backgrounds and their peers at both phases
- raise aspirations among parents and children
- increase the number of good and outstanding schools.
Key areas of work:
- Pathways to Achievement - bespoke support for individual schools in the most challenging circumstances. Support is brokered by expert advisers to meet schools’ individual needs.
- Teaching and Learning - a range of programmes mainly delivered by the Black Country Children’s Services Improvement Partnership (BCCSIP) to improve the quality of teaching and learning in schools.
- Leadership - the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services is supporting the development of a Black Country wide leadership strategy. A key feature of the strategy is the use of high quality headteachers (trained as Local Leaders of Education (LLEs) and National Leaders of Education (NLEs)) to support other schools.
- Closing the gap - mainly focused on schools working in small groups to develop strategies to raise the attainment of pupils eligible for free school meals.
- Raising Aspirations - expert support is being provided to schools to help them find ways to raise aspirations amongst pupils, parents and school staff.
