The most common mistakes in school improvement plans and how to avoid them

A school improvement plan or SIP is a strategic document created by a school’s senior leadership team to guide the institution's development and improvement. It outlines the vision, assesses needs, sets goals, and defines the actions and resources required to achieve those goals. Essentially, it's a roadmap for school growth and improvement.  

SIPs are fantastic ways to intentionally set about growing your school, when they are done right. However, there are common errors schools make when it comes to creating an SIP, and we’re here to help you avoid them.

Common Errors and How to Avoid Them:

1. Not Defining Clear Objectives and Requirements:

Schools may not clearly understand or outline their needs and goals before creating an improvement plan. It is important that the objectives and goals are driven by data from the school - looking at various types of data from the school’s stakeholders is key. Instead of spending time, effort and financial resources on “problems” that may not actually apply to the school; understanding what issues exist and creating clear goals to resolve those issues is a time saver. 

2. Neglecting to Involve All Stakeholders:

Failing to include teachers, parents, students, and other community members in the planning process can lead to a plan that doesn't resonate with the school community. While leadership may have its own idea about what is wrong, getting feedback from those on ground will make all the difference in the quality of the output that comes from the SIP. 

3. Rushing the Planning Process:

Sometimes in the desire to impress a board or a school owner, school leadership can rush to create an SIP and push for implementation too quickly. The problem with a hurried SIP is that it may not be thorough, and key areas that need to be addressed might be neglected. Furthermore rushing the execution of an inadequate SIP can put a school in a worse position than where they started. School leadership must allocate sufficient time for each phase of the planning process, including needs assessment, goal setting, and action planning. Additionally when executing the plan, it is important to take the time necessary to execute each phase thoroughly to ensure effectiveness. 

4. Underestimating the Need for Professional Development:

Not prioritizing professional development for teachers and staff can hinder the successful implementation of the improvement plan. A school can have the most amazing SIP, created by some of the most skilled educational consultants but if the staff on hand do not have the professional skill required to execute then it is pointless. 

A school is only as good as its teachers, and when there is a lack of investment in educators, schools run the risk of hindering how much progress can be made. It is essential that school leadership identifies specific professional development needs based on the plan's goals and provides opportunities for ongoing learning and support for teachers. 

5. Trying to Do Too Much at Once:

“The shorter way to do many things is to only do one thing at a time" - Mozart 

At times, the sheer scale of what a school wants to achieve with an SIP can be overwhelming. A series of changes across various departments, happening at the same time can be hard to keep up with. Things slip through the cracks, people are not held accountable for their part of the plan and no one goal is achieved properly. Attempting to address too many issues simultaneously can dilute the impact of the improvement plan. To mitigate this, school leaders should prioritize a few key areas for improvement and focus on implementing strategies that address those areas effectively. 

6. Not Regularly Reviewing and Updating the Plan:

No plan is perfect; all the research and survey data, and teacher training in the world does not negate the fact that sometimes plans need to change. Unforeseen circumstances, internal board decisions that weren't communicated, changes to curriculum from international education bodies, emergencies - things come up that may mean the plan has to be adapted. Sometimes, it's just a matter of application issues; what sounded great in theory does not always translate perfectly into the real world. Things that are in the plan, that are within budget, may just not be feasible due to various constraints. 

The initial SIP is an essential document, but it is not the ten commandments! Adaptations can and at times, must be made. Failing to regularly review and update the plan can lead to it becoming outdated and ineffective. It is essential that a schedule is established for regular review and updates in order to incorporate feedback from various sources, and make adjustments as needed.

Conclusions 

In an ever evolving world, schools must keep up in order to sufficiently prepare students for the realities they will face. Every school needs an SIP to make sure they can provide the most relevant and quality education experiences for their students.  

If your institution is facing a roadblock with SIP development, ISED is here to help! We provide a curated SIP creation experience where our consultants will sit with school leadership and carry them through each stage of the process and prepare them for the execution phase.