Getting started

If you or your school are considering working in partnership with other schools, colleges or other organisations you need to think about your strengths and weaknesses, aspirations for the science curriculum and potential partners. It is essential that you have:

• a clear and positive decision about the partnership at a strategic level, with full senior management and governance support
• a clear vision of why the partnership is being developed in the school development plan
• a high level of senior management commitment throughout the development, implementation and the embedding of the partnership and its activities, evidenced by the allocation of staff time and resource.

Partnerships are most effective when the vision and strategy are understood by all levels of the schools and colleges, and where teaching staff are involved in the early stages of planning. Before approaching potential partners, carry out some initial research. This will save time in the long run and help in the planning stages.

Related links

The following are examples of teachers' groups:

www.cambridgebiologists.org
University of Cambridge Science Festival
www.researchersinresidence.ac
.uk
www.sanger.ac.uk/Teams/
Team104/
www.yourgenome.org

Details on regulations, definitions and examples of good practice in developing federations

www.standards.dfes.gov.uk
/federations/
www.innovationunit.co.uk
/collaboration/