Education Action Zones

Programme Objectives
The aim is to establish up to 50 new, small Education Action Zones; each centred on a single secondary school.

While this programme is key to the EiC package, immediate decisions (for the July 1999 outline plans) do not have to be taken. The DfEE will issue further guidance in July.

	The aim of creating smaller EAZs is to allow more intense focus in the most difficult circumstances. The small EAZs will aim to help schools achieve excellence through creating a culture of expectation, achievement and opportunity.
	One of the roles of a zone will be to help ensure the various programmes available in an Excellence in Cities area are properly targeted on, and effectively used by, the schools in the zone.

Key Information

	There is potential for a project director to work closely with the group of heads across the schools - even to become, in effect, the line manager of the heads of the individual schools;
	There are similar opportunities for often senior staff and curriculum leaders to have a role across the zone;
	There is potential for the schools to establish a common governing body by using the Action Forum;
	Formal 'twinning' of the schools either within or outside the zone, perhaps matching failing schools to Beacon or Specialist schools;
	There is potential for sharing of good practice.

The role of small EAZs

	As with larger zones, it is important that the programme impacts on the classroom, with an essential focus on raising standards through improved teaching and learning.
	The programme will need to be based on a clear understanding of school improvement issues in the area.
	Effective leadership and management will be key, with a strong project director working for a tightly managed forum; and a mechanism for ensuring the forums decisions are owned by and affect directly, the schools in the zone.
	Each small EAZ will receive £250K per year for 3-5 years. Up to £50K more will be available to match private sector funds raised by the zone.
	A small EAZ could be created in a secondary school with the most challenging targets for KS4 achievement, together with its associated primary schools.
	Their exact location will be a matter for consideration including which schools are most in need of, and able to benefit from, more focused support; and links to other policies such as Beacons, Specialist schools and Learning Centres.

Birmingham's Overview

	This programme links directly to EDP Priority 5 activity 5 which seeks to establish action zones.
	The small EAZ model will enable a concentrated focus by one secondary school and its feeder primaries to bring together a whole community approach to education. Any EAZ established would be a part of the overall strategy for EiC in Birmingham and would need to identify how it can best share its experience and pass on the good practice developed.
	With our commitment to the principle of lifelong education, EAZs will be seen as a community resource whose influence extends well beyond the school.
	As with many other aspects of the EiC programme EAZ schools will be expected to use the Birmingham Grid for Learning to both share good practice and to seek to learn from the other EiC developments across the city.

Go to Quinzone EAZ