New programme to support leaders of small schools

HFL Education, formerly Herts for Learning, has created a dedicated programme to explore best practice with small school leaders.
 
A steady decline in the UK birth rate over the past 10 years coupled with families moving away from areas where it is no longer affordable to live, including parts of central London, has left hundreds of primary schools having to adapt to falling numbers of children. The Department for Education expects the number of pupils at state-funded schools to decrease by 944,000 by 20321.
 
For school leaders with falling numbers of pupils there are many unique challenges, such as how to deliver a great education to children on a smaller budget, more pressure on teaching and support staff, how to meet the needs of learners in mixed aged classes, and maintaining strategic governance.
 
To help them continue delivering the best education to their pupils, HFL Education, formerly Herts for Learning, has created a dedicated programme to explore best practice with small school leaders. The low-cost course includes half termly bitesize briefings, discussion groups and free resources to help educators navigate some of the major issues synonymous with small schools.
 
Briefing sessions include case studies shared by school leaders already working in small schools. One such case study is headteacher Tara McGovern. Tara has 23 years’ experience working in small village schools, and has spent the last nine years leading one of the smallest schools in the country. Therfield First School is a village school in Hertfordshire with just 64 children on roll.
 
Tara said: “This is an important programme as it recognises the burdens and challenges that small schools face, but it also celebrates our uniqueness. Far from pushing us to merge, join trusts or become federations, the advice and best practice shared will help more small schools to thrive. As a small school leader myself, I understand first-hand the creativity needed to deliver educational impact with limited time and budget, and it can be a lonely journey. This programme provides much needed support, and that’s essential as our small schools have an important place in our communities.”
 
The innovative Small Schools programme has been developed by HFL Education, a not-for-profit organisation, in response to feedback from schools.
 
Catherine Tallis, Director of Business Services at HFL Education, said: “The small schools we’ve traditionally worked with were usually rural and geographically isolated schools, but we are now seeing more and more town and city schools with falling numbers of pupils seeking support. They equally need help to navigate the new challenges they are facing and that’s why we developed a fully rounded programme to look at a range of topics specifically through a ‘small school lens’. This includes everything from designing a curriculum, to creating a positive staff community to supporting underserved learners.”
 
Hannah Trickett, headteacher at Maple Cross JMI and Nursery School in Rickmansworth, has signed up to the HFL Education Small Schools Programme. With 169 pupils on roll, Maple Cross doesn’t yet meet the DfE definition of a small school but with local admissions plummeting and many people moving out of the greater London area since Covid, Hannah is pragmatic about the need to plan ahead:
 
Hannah said: “Admission numbers are falling fast and in the next few years I estimate our school will drop to around 120 children on roll. This means cuts to an already tight budget and the prospect of introducing mixed aged classes, so I joined the Small Schools programme to prepare myself for the challenges ahead. The programme has been punchy and informative – there’s little nuggets in every session and they cover a lot in a short space of time. The speakers and the case study schools are really positive and its actually revitalising at the end of the day to be around people who share your passion and enthusiasm for small schools.”
 
The Small Schools bitesize briefings can be watched live or replayed and shared in staff meetings or with other relevant school staff, such as governors to maximise the reach of the programme. By keeping the cost ultra-low and ensuring the programme is flexible to the needs of busy school leaders HFL Education has endeavoured to make it as accessible as possible.
 
The Small Schools programme will be run throughout 2024, with previous sessions available on ‘catch up’ on the HFL learning hub. Schools can try before they buy, with the first session available for just £20, which is refundable if the complete course is booked.