School Centre for Innovation and Research

PROJECT  -  RELAUNCH  MARCH 2012

What’s in a name?

From March 2012 the ‘Somerset Centres for Innovation and Research’ will become ‘School Centres for Innovation and Research’. This is to reflect growing interest in the initiative from outside Somerset and because Early Years settings previously incorporated in SCIR, will now operate as ‘Early Years Centres for Innovation and Research’. In most other ways the project will operate as before. The SCIR information brochure, available on this website, following feedback from schools, has been completely revised for greater clarity with updated versions of the Writing Framework and the Coaching Checklist for Innovation Projects as well as a guide for those coaching Innovation Project participants. The SCIR affiliation form has also been revised to give greater stimulus to good practice and promoting innovation and creativity in schools.

 

School Centres for Innovation and Research (SCIR) and Innovation Projects

 

Background to the SCIR Project

The SCIR project began in 2009 and by early 2012 some twenty eight schools and other settings, ranging from the largest academies to small private nurseries, had passed through the simple affiliation process to gain certification as a Somerset Centre for Innovation and Research (SCIR). The project operates under the auspices of The Somerset Centre for Integrated Learning (SCIL). The purpose of the programme is to promote innovation and creativity in working with children and young people, as well as good professional development. Over seventy Innovation Projects have been completed. Now the name is changing to ‘School Centre for Innovation and Research,’ to reflect the growing interest from beyond Somerset, and early years settings will operate as ‘Early Years Centres for Innovation and Research’. Other bodies promoting good practice can also become SCIRs.

 

What is a SCIR?

A School Centre for Innovation and Research is a school that demonstrates a strong ongoing commitment to an innovative approach to learning, supporting and developing young people and the professional development of all its staff. Recognition as a SCIR is based on:

·         Evidence of existing creative and stimulating approaches to teaching, learning and the provision of care

·         Existing good practice in developing and supporting staff

 

However, certification also entails a commitment to carrying out further ‘Innovation Projects’, small-scale ‘action-research’ projects, the prime purpose of which is to improve learning or caring for children and young people.

It is a condition of becoming a SCIR that good practice and innovation are shared across the SCIR network as well as being posted on both the SCIL and the Somerset Leadership College (SLC) website.

 

Certificates are awarded to all new SCIRs and to those completing Innovation Projects by Somerset County Council and University College Plymouth, St Mark & St John (Marjon). 

 

Innovation Projects – How do they work?

Anyone with a good idea may undertake an Innovation Project. The choice of subject and the time-frame rest with the school. Participants identify an improvement idea within their own practice and carry out a basic process of: research, innovation, evaluation of impact, dissemination to other colleagues via the SCIL & SLC website.

 

The school will usually appoint a ‘coach’ or mentor, who acts as a critical friend. Sometimes SCIL consultants fulfill this role, but Innovation Projects are largely self-directed. Materials are provided to give participants and coaches a supportive guiding framework as the project progresses.

 

Projects can be developed into further qualifications or study at a variety of levels, such as: MEd, Foundation Degree, SCITT course, Diploma etc.

Student Projects

Pupils and Students may also be invited by their schools to undertake Innovation Projects, for which a certificate from the local authority and University College, Plymouth, (Marjon) will be awarded. It is anticipated that such projects will operate on much the same lines as for staff with the main parameters, duration and scope of project, being set by the school.

 

How to gain Affiliation as a School Centre for Innovation and Research

Once a school has decided to apply to become a SCIR an Affiliation Report is completed through dialogue with a consultant from the Somerset Centre for Integrated Learning who writes the report derived from information given by the school. It is a ‘light-touch’, formative process, based on dialogue rather than documentation. Affiliation Reports are seen as gatherings of good practice rather than judgmental and are published on the SCIL & SCILwebsite together with Innovation Projects.  The publication of innovation projects will help schools to learn from other schools.

 

 

For further information and to arrange an information visit, contact SCIL: scil@somerset.gov.uk or 01823 368280.