Report on the Leading Collaborative Learning Project in Wales is released

‘Leading Collaborative Learning’ (LCL) was a two-year development and research (D and R) project, supported by the regions in Wales, that focused on the work of Dr Lyn Sharratt. The LCL project connected centrally to the contemporary policy context in Wales i.e., ‘Schools as Learning Organisations’ 1, the new curriculum2, the National Professional Standards3 and the ‘National Mission’4. The main aim of the LCL work was to contribute to pedagogical capacity building in Wales and to support professionals in their school improvement work.

The LCL Project aimed to build pedagogical knowledge and instructional capacity within Welsh schools, and across the system in Wales, through a process of dedicated training from Dr Sharratt followed by intensive periods of collaborative activity in and between project schools. Schools were guided in their enquiry and innovation processes by the ‘14 Parameters’ outlined in the text "CLARITY: What Matters MOST in Learning, Teaching, and Leading".

Executive Summary

• The LCL project, based on the work of Dr Lyn Sharratt, has made a positive and lasting contribution to pedagogical knowledge in Wales.
• The LCL work has contributed new instructional knowledge that is continuing to inform and support the ongoing improvement work within Welsh schools.
• Pedagogical knowledge building has been secured in schools, through the LCL work, by the sharing and active use of the specific CLARITY tools.
• The LCL project has demonstrated that there are strong links and considerable overlap between the 14 Parameters and the ‘Schools as Learning Organisations’ model in Wales.
• The 14 Parameters offer a potential framework that could support the ongoing SLO implementation in Welsh schools.
• Effective collaborative work was a key feature of the project and a key factor in its progress.
• Cross regional support and local collaboration proved to be a critical component in the project’s success.
• Cross regional support offered a strong professional platform for the continuation of the work during Covid 19 and provided an essential infrastructure for the realisation of the project.
• The collaborative support, and professionalism of all system leaders, throughout the project, was exemplary and their co-delivery role ensured that the LCL work stayed firmly on track.
• The playlist of recorded webinars (developed over January 2021-June 2021) is a legacy resource for all schools across Wales.
• The unfailing commitment of Dr Sharratt and the regional delivery teams sustained the momentum of the LCL work. Their professionalism meant that the schools engaged with the LCL learning, even in the most challenging of times.
• The LCL work in Welsh schools is ongoing even though the project has formally ended. Such continuity suggests that there are real opportunities to scale up this work and to engage even more schools in Wales in this pedagogical journey.
• Welsh schools are now presenting at international events and sharing their LCL work with schools, in many different countries.