Operating Procedures

In order for all Academies/Schools to function efficiently and remain aligned to the shared values and vision, it is essential that both the Standard and IMPROVE™ specific Operating Procedures are understood, embraced and followed.

Operating Procedures include:

• Annual Planning cycle
• SLT structure and responsibilities mapped to KIPs
• ARCI - In order to manage accountability effectively, it is necessary for all individuals to understand and embrace the use of ARCI as a framework for reporting, monitoring and assessment procedures. A starting point is the definition for each aspect of the acronym:
  • A = who holds the accountability for ensuring functions are carried out. This can be either an individual person defined by role, or an individual corporate entity and this accountability rests solely with that individual or corporate identity - i.e. they have the ultimate duty to ensure that a function is fulfilled or that an outcome is achieved. It is important to note that only one individual/ corporate identity can hold such accountability, otherwise ambiguities will occur in terms of who does indeed have an ultimate duty for a function or outcome. It is also worth noting who an individual or corporate identity are accountable to as we as what they are accountable for.
  • R = who holds the responsibility for carrying out/ undertaking the functions/ actions - i.e. the individual who has the duty to fulfil a function/ action to achieve a defined outcome. Unlike accountability, these duties may be shared by a number of individuals, so long as roles and reporting lines are clearly defined, agreed and monitored.
  • C = who should be consulted on matters of development, policy and decision – this relies on the nature of the activity/ business.
  • I = who should be kept informed as to developments, progress, reporting, etc as appropriate – again this relies on the nature of the activity/ business.
• Divisional Leader structure
• Strategic Forum – designed to ensure consistency of governance, led by the CEO once a term and attended by the Managing Directors of Academies and Schools together with the Chair of Governors from each academy
• National Leaders and Officers Meeting (NLOM) – designed to share aspects of best practice as well as raise and address issues of concern, led by the Managing Director of Academies and Schools and attended by IMPROVE™ Officers, Principals and Headteachers
• Annual Leadership Conference - designed to share up-to-date news, information and data regarding best practice in all aspects of Leadership and education.
• Principal/ Headteacher’s job description
• Vice Principals' job description:
  • Curriculum
  • Teaching and Learning
  • Student Development and Well Being
• Access and use of Academy portal - specialist Learning Technologies and ICT staff have developed the portal as a toolkit, which offers policies procedures and the important standard operating procedures anytime, anywhere. These are constantly being updated and improved. The portal comprises three sections:
  1. Learning Portal
  2. Management Portal (AA, SDM, Governor portal, Management tools, Policies, Matrices, Academy updates, outreach log etc.)
  3. The IMPROVE™ framework for Academy and School improvement
  By linking academies' and schools’ intranets IMPROVE™ manages and monitors the supply of information that is released and shared. The ICT team ensures that each of the Intranets are linked with our Standard Operating Procedures, which are located in portal. This facility ensures that Academy leadership teams can focus on the performance in the classroom rather than re-inventing policies and procedures. As new processes, systems and policies are developed they are published via the intranets. It is the responsibility of IMPROVE's™ Executive Team to measure the effectiveness of each of the systems and processes and amend as appropriate.