Mobilising Schools and Communities

"Of all the consultancy support we have received, the most significant has been from The Innovation Unit, for two reasons: because the two consultants took time to get inside and understand what we are trying to do, and because they partnered us through the process over a sustained period." - Elaine Ayre, Assistant Director, Knowsley MBC  

The Innovation Challenge

We know that radical innovation and complex change go hand in hand. We also know that the majority of potentially transformational change projects success or fail on their ability to engage the hearts and minds of participants - and to sustain the energy for change. Outstanding leadership is a key element in making this happen, as is the engagement of stakeholders (Local Authority staff, teaching professionals, parents, community stakeholders).

Our Approach

The Applied Next Practice programme works with ambitious local projects (currently Knowsley, West Norfolk, Milton Keynes, Wigan and Tower Hamlets) and is a tailored approach to supporting the strategic leadership of change. Programmes are customised to the aspirations and challenges of local circumstances and are co-designed with leaders on the ground to ensure relevance and to integrate local leadership capacity.

Innovation Unit provides high quality and experienced facilitators to work alongside key leaders. We design solutions with them. Our people empathise with local challenges and we are genuine stakeholders in success. We have significant, relevant experience, have facilitated Next Practice solutions elsewhere, and we want work we support to succeed in order that new practices can be effectively transferred and scaled up.

In Applied Next Practice projects, Innovation Unit consultants will:

• Trial and support local development of transformative practices across localities
• Stimulate and create innovative capacity and new ideas
• Offer skilled facilitation in complex situations with multiple stakeholders
• Assist with the design, planning and facilitation of mission-critical events - using tried and tested materials
• Provide expertise, critical friendship and appropriate challenge
• Utilise innovative approches to coaching for key leaders
• Provide sustained development support for key leaders and utilise innovative approaches to coaching
• Help broker appropriate local partnerships
• Use proven tools and resources
• Broker additional capacities, where relevant
• Source learning from other sites which is beneficial and relevant

The Bridge Change Leadership Framework supports effective change leadership and addresses the cultural dynamics of local system transformation. It has been a very successful tool in helping local leaders of innovation projects to build leadership partnership and to address the system challenges that confront leaders.

Timelines

Most of our work lasts 18 months or more, in recognition of the timescales that are necessary for authentic system change. Usually this is designed in six month phases. We are also interested in co-developing materials for and from the work that can be utilised elsewhere in the system.

Outcomes

Please click to download two anonymous versions of locality enquiry outcomes.

Presentation 1 - A locality enquiry

Presentation 2 - School & community leaders consultation

There are also three think pieces available to download below:

System Leadership and Governance: Leadership beyond institutional boundaries

Changing the Paradigm

Pedagogic Change Themes

Tools & processes

New Models of Leadership tool

The Bridge Change Leadership framework

Diamond 9 activity

Think pieces (as above)

Project contacts

Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  for more information.