Third Wave has worked with Queen’s Park Lower School, Bedford, an outstanding school and a National Support School, on multiple, inter-related and complex projects. These have had a focus on school improvement and school to school support.
Third Wave began working with Queen’s Park in 2008 to provide struggling schools with an example of outstanding practice and an opportunity to shadow, visit and understand what can be achieved through working differently. We deployed the head teacher of Queen’s Park, Anne McCormick, and her school to support two under performing schools in Leicester. In one school, Anne coached the head teacher and led school to school support in areas such as EAL and special needs. In the second school, Anne and her staff supported the school as they carried out a complete overhaul of the curriculum using the International Primary Curriculum, also in use at Queen’s Park. Partnerships were set up between the early years teams and a series of visits took place to share good practice.
Third Wave has also developed Queen’s Park Lower School as a host school for the Improving Teacher Programme and the Beyond Monitoring Programme. This reflects the company’s commitment to school based professional development with Third Wave management and administrative support and an experienced Third Wave co-facilitator adding to the school’s capacity to deliver training programmes. The school has hosted a number of successful programmes, allowing particpants to observe practice in the school. The process has also generated new leadership opportunities in the school. More programmes are planned for the future with the aim of raising attainment, spreading excellence and ensuring the best outcomes for pupils.
The development of the school has enabled the head teacher of Queen's Park to take on an executive headship involving linking her own school with two schools in Milton Keynes. She commented:
"Third Wave have worked with me to develop the management structure for the schools involved. I have found them to be forward looking, proactive and responsive. Above all they are committed to providing a personal and bespoke service."
Most recently Third Wave has supported Queen's Park as it has applied for academy status.
Anne McCormick said her commitment to supporting others also ensures standards are maintained in her own school:
“As an outstanding school, when reflecting and sharing you need to constantly monitor your own performance and identify areas for improvement. It’s beneficial to work with organisations at the forefront of current educational debate and be in partnership with a company that’s so heavily dedicated to school improvement – that’s what our collaboration with Third Wave brings to us.”
