Collaboration and Reflection Through Challenge Partners
Debra Watling, Assistant Vice Principal and SENDco at Sydney Russell School, credits the Challenge Partners SEND Peer Review programme for helping her school achieve deeper reflection and growth in their SEND provision. Sydney Russell, a large all-through school with over 2,600 students, used the peer review as an opportunity to step back and assess the impact of its adaptive teaching practices, especially in meeting the needs of vulnerable learners.
Working with two other schools, Kingsmead in Edmonton and Hayes in Bromley, Debra found the collaboration invaluable. Despite the different school contexts, with Hayes situated in a more affluent area, the experience enabled all the schools to reflect on their practices and share ideas for improvement.
A Deeper Dive Into SEND Provision
The SEND Peer Review allowed Sydney Russell to take a "deep dive" into its SEND practices. Debra noted that, as educators and leaders, they often focus on fixing problems. However, the review provided space to appreciate the school’s successes. This reflection was further enriched by the exchange of ideas with other professionals, helping Debra and her team identify what worked well and where they could improve.
One key learning point was the benefit of benchmarking against other schools. Sydney Russell was able to compare its approach to Kingsmead and Hayes, recognising differences but also realising that the goals for SEND provision were similar: providing effective universal practices that benefit all learners.
Leveraging Insights for Success
The peer review had a lasting impact on Sydney Russell’s performance. The school used the insights gained during the SEND review to prepare for a quality assurance review, “by the time they got to us, we had this fantastic repertoire of ‘this is what we do’, because we'd learned prior to those meetings." Debra highlighted that the preparation paid off, as the school performed exceptionally well in the external review, “we went into that quality assurance visit and we absolutely flew through it... I would certainly attribute that to the experience we had with Challenge Partners." This success was attributed to the reflective practices and benchmarking tools gained from the SEND programme, which enabled the school to confidently demonstrate both its strengths and areas for growth.
Benchmarking and Self-Reflection: Key to Improvement
Debra emphasised that one of the most valuable aspects of the peer review process was the ability to benchmark and self-assess, “the tools provided through Challenge Partners helped us assess the schools progress and plan for future growth... We knew how to benchmark where we felt we were doing things right and where we still had improvements to make.” Using the Challenge Partners tools, the school could accurately evaluate its SEND provisions and identify areas for further development. This ability to justify decisions and demonstrate progress played a crucial role in the school’s success during their recent quality assurance visit.
Looking Ahead: The Value of Time and Collaboration
Debra underscores the importance of external feedback for schools. Challenge Partners has provided an invaluable opportunity for Sydney Russell to step outside of its day-to-day operations, reflect on its practices, and engage with a broader professional network. She believes that continued collaboration and reflection are essential to driving long-term school improvement.
A Final Takeaway: Embrace Feedback for Growth
In closing, Debra encourages schools to embrace external feedback as a valuable tool for growth. The peer review process, in her view, provides a safe and supportive environment to reflect on strengths, address challenges, and ultimately improve outcomes for students. For Sydney Russell, the SEND programme has been an essential part of their journey, and Debra looks forward to continuing this collaborative approach to leadership and school improvement.