BEACON SCHOOL INFORMATION

The Beacon schools scheme has been specifically designed to help raise standards in schools through the sharing and spreading of good practice. It is based on the building of partnerships to foster a two-way exchange of knowledge between professionals. Beacon schools represent examples of successful practice that can be shared with others, enabling partners to reflect on whether principles and approaches can be adapted to achieve similar results in their own schools.
The Beacon School initiative plays a key role in the Government's drive to raise standards within education and is one of the main strands of the Excellence in Cities strategy.
Beacon Schools offer advice on a wide range of areas including specific curriculum subjects, pupil monitoring, school management, provision for gifted and talented children, improving parent involvement, special educational needs and anti-bullying strategies. Some are providing support through Initial Teacher Training or work with newly qualified teachers. Others are working with failing schools or schools on special measures, but Beacon schools are not only intended for those with problems. Any school that is interested in developing good practice should consider whether it might be able to benefit from exposure to the different ideas and practices that Beacons can offer.
Beacon schools are employing a wide range of activities to disseminate their good practice, including seminars to teachers from other schools; mentoring; workshadowing; provision of in-service training and consultancy.
Local Education Authorities have a valuable contribution to make in creating learning networks between schools. They are able to help schools identify learning priorities and discuss how they could benefit from having links with a Beacon or specialist school.