The Approach to Creating a Great School
The best approach we know of for effecting change in schools is called Future Search. It is the approach that global education expert Professor Michael Fullan described as exciting and inspiring”.
It has been used widely in North America and is now emerging in Australia.
It is based on 60+ years of management theory and practice and reflects the emerging most effective approach of ‘Everybody Improves Whole Systems’ (also known as ‘The Whole System Improves the Whole System’).
The Future Search approach recognises that despite the awesome benefits of modern technology, the best way to effect change around any systemic issue is a structured, well planned and well lead, face to face action-oriented meeting of the ‘whole school system’. (About the whole system in schools and the 4 reasons why it is critical to effecting change.)
Other forms of communication and engagement (eg smaller stakeholder meetings, online forums, focus groups, and surveys) can supplement a ‘whole system’ meeting but never replace it.
What this approach achieves, in summary, is enthusiastic collaborative action to achieve results that were previously not able to be achieved in your school.
The Outcomes for Your School
Although the overall approach is far greater collaborative action, there are 7 distinct outcomes that can be achieved with an ideal application of this approach.
How the Approach Can Be Applied in Your School
These principles can be effectively applied to anything from 1-hour regular meetings to 2 or more day-long retreats focused on one or more of the following issues:
- School change
- School strategic planning
- Implementing an existing strategic plan
- Creating a vision for the school
- Building a strong school community
- Cultural change
- Enhanced teaching and learning
- Creating a healthy school
Understandable Scepticism
Many school leaders have understandable scepticism about this approach.
Firstly, most schools have tried to generate engagement of external stakeholders (eg parents) over much lesser periods of time and not been successful.
We cover this issue further in our FAQs but suffice to say that this is actually a marketing exercise while the traditional strength of most schools is teaching not marketing. Other schools have found that when they combine our suggested approach with a bit of effort on their part, they are pleasantly surprised at the engagement. For more information on this, see our FAQs.
Second, like all of us, you have probably experienced many small group meetings that were unproductive, let alone large group meetings.
It is the combination of proper planning, quality meeting leadership and particularly the 8 Future Search principles that makes this approach so powerful and effective.
Third, many school leaders are concerned about things that may be shared during the process and what will come out of it.
This is again covered in our FAQs but here is what the authors of a book focused on Future Search in school district change have said:
“Those who consider Future Search may wonder about the wisdom of widespread community involvement in school planning at the outset. Often they fear that “outsiders” will have too high expectations of the school district [or school] or else overstep their role. What has been found is that by opening the system through a Future Search, people better understand their role and find ways to contribute more fully and appropriately.”
– Future Search in School District Change — Connection, Community, and Results, Rita Schweitz & Kim Martens with Nancy Aronson
The final point to make about any such understandable scepticism is that the outcomes speak for themselves. Read the high praise given through the testimonials of other school and school district leaders.
How GSA Can Help Your School
The main work of Great Schools Australia is to facilitate such initiatives.
More on the process we use for doing this.
We also provide products and other facilitation services for smaller group meetings to help you move your school towards greatness.
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Coming 2009!
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News and Events
Advanced Meeting Leadership Workshop for Leaders and Consultants, with internationally renowned US authors and consultants Marv Weisbord and Sandra Janoff of Future Search fame. Sydney. October 2008. Large discounts for first 20 registrants!
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