| “The Investors in People Standard sits so well with the philosophy of inclusion and achievement at this school, that it was an easy task to pull together a working group to oversee the assessment process” |
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Company Background
Jackfield Nursery and Infants is a lively, urban ‘Beacon’ school in the Stoke-on-Trent area, with over 200 children aged three to seven years. Its Head Teacher, Dawn Shaw, has been in post for just under two years and has already introduced a number of exciting initiatives. They are one of a number of schools in the area that has achieved ‘Extended School Status’. The school originally achieved Investors in People Standard in 2000 and shortly after Dawn joined the school, she was contacted by West Midlands Quality Centre to ask if she wished to renew the Standard.
The Challenge: Renewing the Standard
Dawn comments: "This is the first school I have worked in with Investors in People recognition, and I had never been through the process of either achieving or renewing the award.” She continues: “A lot of work had gone into achieving the original award and, despite feeling slightly daunted by the prospect, I felt that it was important that this should not be wasted. Also, having been at the school for a while, I knew that there were many good practices in place and an assessment against the latest Investors in People Standard would identify if they are still working well.” Dawn says: "The Investors in People Standard sits so well with the philosophy of inclusion and achievement at this school, and therefore it was an easy task to pull together a working group to oversee the assessment process." The school employs thirty-nine people, including support staff, teachers, early-years workers and office managers. Most of the processes supporting the good practice required by Investors in People were well-embedded in the school. Certain areas were highlighted and the working group made improvements to these in preparation for the formal assessment.
The Results
Dawn explains: "One of the things I find most useful about the Investors in People Standard is how it supports the School Improvement Plan. The Standard also helps to create an atmosphere of inclusion for all our staff - whatever their role.” She continues: “The Standard encourages people to contribute ideas for improving both their own and other working areas to the general benefit of the whole school, and reinforces the value of every member of the team." Dawn states: "A key measure of achieving Investors in People for us is how the children benefit. I feel that the Standard encourages everyone to work as a team, providing a circle of contribution which is vital in helping get the most out of them." She adds: "I believe that all schools should operate in the way encouraged by the Standard, and should I move to a different school in the future, which did not have recognition, it would be one of the first things I would aim to put in place.” She finishes: “It isn’t just a plaque on the wall. It is tangible evidence that the school is operating in an effective way, which generates respect for people and their views - whatever part of the school they operate in."
