Secondary School Improvement Service Level Agreement (SISLA) 2025/26
Lancashire Secondary, AP and Special Schools (academy)
The SISLA offer assumes that the academy does not vary significantly from the maintained sector in its pay and conditions of service and is willing to enter a data-sharing agreement which allows the Local Authority to access its results within national datasets which are used to support self-evaluation. If this is not the case, an additional workload may be required for the school adviser and charges would therefore need to be individually negotiated.
Welcome
Thank you for taking the time to read our School Improvement Service Level Agreement (SISLA) 2025/26.
Lancashire County Council provides unparalleled access to county-wide networks, communication and information sharing solely focused on school improvement.
By buying into our core SISLA offer you are guaranteed to have access to the most up to date school improvement and support, along with direct access to Lancashire County Council HR, Inclusion, Safeguarding, DfE and Ofsted policy and practices, the latest local, wider and national priorities, school-to-school support networks, Finance, communications support, Lancashire Professional Development Service, academy conversions.
We are very proud of the quality and consistency of what we have provided over many years and we are delighted that the SISLA continues to grow and develop in response to the changing needs of our schools.
As ever, our primary goal is to ensure that our children and young people benefit from the best possible educational opportunities that schools can deliver, working under the umbrella of the Lancashire Education Strategy.
| Activity Description |
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Package B £4649 |
Package C £5325 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 visits |
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| HT appraisal | |
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| HT and SLT recruitment (one round only, additional will be charged extra) |
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| Staff and student surveys | |
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One additional focused school improvement activity*, which could include:
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* Options for 1 or 2 advisors may incur additional costs, to be negotiated with school during the planning of these activities.
"Our school advisor has a strong understanding of the Local Authority and played a key role in preparing us for a successful Ofsted inspection. Additionally, he has offered valuable support in leadership development. Since the inspection, he has continued to provide ongoing support, including helping to shape the leadership structure as our school continues to grow."
Headteacher, Red Marsh School
Additional Commissioned Services
All of these school improvement activities are also available to commission as standalone additions (for both SISLA or non SISLA schools) from the Secondary Advisory Service:
| Activity Description | Description | Associated Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Supervision / Coaching for Headteacher or members of the Senior Leadership Team |
Bespoke, one hour session every half term. |
£825 |
| SEND Audit | The audit focuses on 8 education strands: 1. Outcomes for pupils with SEND 2. Leadership of SEND 3. The Quality of T&L for pupils with SEND 4. Working with pupils and parents/carers 5. Assessment and Identification 6. Monitoring, tracking and evaluation 7. The efficient use of resources 8. The quality of SEND provision |
SEND audit one adviser - £825 SEND audit two advisers - £1600 |
| HT appraisal | Preparation, onsite visit and report writing, including interim review documentation. | £825 |
| 1 day school improvement with allocated school advisor | Focusing on an aspect of school improvement aligned with self- evaluation and school improvement planning. |
£825 |
|
Recruitment |
Headteacher and Senior Leadership recruitment | £825 |
|
PP Audit |
Audit to evaluate how effectively school is using their Pupil Premium funding | £825 |
Why Lancashire SISLA?
Additional benefits:
- A named school adviser, assigned in consultation with your school. Three adviser days, which includes one visit to school each term and a day for headteacher appraisal (Packages B, C or commissioned work). Each visit follows a common agenda, but the nature of the support provided by the adviser is determined by the school's own priorities for improvement. Your named adviser will compile reports and respond to emails and telephone calls from school staff/Governors.
- Dedicated attention to providing and promoting wellbeing for everyone associated with your school.
- Full year support via telephone and email, as required, with cover arrangements when the named adviser is on leave /absent.
- Support during an Ofsted Inspection including discussion with the inspector and attending feedback.
- Contingency support for emergency and critical
- Support for challenging situations, g. capability/parental complaint.
- Assistance in brokering temporary senior
- Records of visits will be
- Support with staff and student voice to inform focused school improvement
- Lancashire School Information Profile (LSIP) (academic year 2024/25, where applicable).
- Full support for Governing Boards in the recruitment of a headteacher, deputy headteacher and assistant headteacher (Package B, C and additional commissioned work).
- Pastoral support for school leaders and staff in dealing with the national and local challenges faced by schools.
- Brokering of support from local and national systems, associations and academy trusts, as appropriate.
- Co-ordinated and partnership working with diocesan colleagues (where appropriate).
- Drawing on expertise and capacity within the TASS cross phase
- One hour, termly group virtual consultancies for curriculum leaders in English, mathematics and science with subject specialist consultants (for Special Schools and PRUs).
- Termly Early Years briefing by consultants (where applicable).
What's New?
We are continually looking to improve the service and offer to you. This year we have the following developments:
- We are reintroducing a refreshed termly bulletin to bring you updates from the service and sector.
- We will be hosting termly Network Meetings for schools that buy in to the SISLA, to network with colleagues and share best practice.
- We will be creating a new Resource Area with examples of best practice from SISLA schools, only available to SISLA schools. Speak to your adviser about how you can contribute!
- We have included a new Pupil Premium Audit, an option as part of package C or as an additional day's work.
Testimonials from our Schools
"The support of our advisor in school is invaluable, not only for keeping abreast of current local and national issues and in order to appropriately prepare for inspection but in so many more ways. The flexibility to steer the agenda and discussion to areas that I am prioritising has proven invaluable in the last two years. I have been able to move forward with addressing attendance, whole school improvement and succession planning as a result. In addition, I know our advisor is always at the end of a phone or email should I want advice or support with any issues I am facing. The network of support available through him and his knowledge of expertise in the local authority is excellent. In addition, our school has benefited from bespoke subject specific advice for our new Head of Maths and new schemes of work in our Science department. I couldn't imagine managing without the SISG."
Headteacher, Alder Grange School
"Over the past 18 months, my experience with the SISG programme has been incredibly enriching. The support and resources provided have significantly enhanced our educational initiatives, fostering a more collaborative and innovative environment for both staff and students. The dedication and expertise of the SISG team have been instrumental in driving positive change and achieving our goals of two outstanding OFSTED inspections alongside a plethora of other awards whilst staying child centred. Thank you LCC"
Headteacher, Bleasdale School
"Our Lancashire school advisor has been an invaluable asset in terms of the support he has provided. He knows and understands our school and uses this understanding to work proactively within our school development planning and delivery. He has advised on self-evaluation and provided valuable guidance around the curriculum. Our advisor is always available for formal and informal support, to lend an ear and to provide a wider perspective when one is needed. He is respected and trusted by myself and the other PRU Heads. He understands the challenges we face and we appreciate that he has taken the time to get to know us personally and also as a collective."
Headteacher, Shaftesbury High School
Our vision for Education and Children's Services
Children, young people and their families are safe, healthy and achieve their full potential.
Lancashire County Council has a duty to drive school improvement so that every school is a good school.
Our School Improvement Service Level Agreement (SISLA) is part of our traded offer, contributing towards achieving our vision by supporting and challenging schools to deliver high quality provision. This should be based on a rich, connected curriculum that deepens learning and equips pupils for the demands of the next phase of their life.
Our SISLA is a traded, distinct offer for schools which complements the Team Around the School and Settings (TASS) work. This is our universal, locality based, needs led model of support for all schools which aims to address recurrent issues that impact on children's educational outcomes. This multi-agency approach works in partnership with all Lancashire schools and settings, to support all children to reach their full potential in education.
Lancashire County Council's Values:
Our Guarantee
A Service That Cares and Is Always There
Our SISLA offer builds upon the well-established model of School Improvement in Lancashire which has grown and developed over the years in response to feedback from our schools. The professional relationship between an adviser, school leaders and governors ensures a detailed knowledge and understanding of individual schools, which then informs bespoke support and challenge.
Bespoke to Your School
This brochure outlines a core offer, but all of our support will be tailored to you and your school.
Wide Ranging Support and Challenge
As a Service, we know our schools well. We are skilled in identifying appropriate challenge, support and opportunities to enable all our schools to be self- managing in responding to local and national developments. Our close working relationship with other LA services, such as HR, Inclusion, Safeguarding and Finance, ensures we are informed of the latest developments within these areas.
Unparalleled Expertise
Our team of advisers are highly skilled and have substantial experience in all aspects of education. They will empower and enable schools to deliver the very best outcomes for all pupils. Our team of advisors includes specialisms in Secondary, SEND and Alternative Provision, with a diverse range of expertise, and a flexible way of working to better meet your needs.
"The support we receive from Lancashire advisory service continues to be excellent. Over the last 3 years, we have commissioned a number of external audits via the advisory service in areas such as English, mathematics, science and SEND. Without exception, the audits were bespoke, meeting our needs and current improvement priorities. Most importantly, the engagement with such processes have contributed to enhanced provision in these areas. Supported by the highly productive work carried out with our advisor during this time, we feel strongly that the service not only meets our needs, but knows and understands our school well. Our experience of all the work carried out with the service has been positive."
Headteacher, Corpus Christi High School
How You Might Use your Lancashire SISLA
Teaching and Learning
• Working with schools to enhance their curriculum offer.
• An audit of the quality of teaching and learning, including ‘Deep Dives’.
• Challenge for good and outstanding schools to further improve and to share their practice more widely.
• A review of assessment and tracking systems across the school.
Leadership and Management
• Professional development for Senior Leadership Teams.
• Preparation for an Ofsted Inspection and assistance with post- Ofsted action planning.
• Supported monitoring and evaluation of teaching through observations of lessons, scrutiny of pupils’ work, pupil discussions etc.
• A whole school review in response to changing national frameworks and expectations.
• School Development review.
• Self-evaluation review (tailored to the needs of the school.)
• Leadership and management audit.
• A review of the impact of discreet funding streams, for example, Pupil Premium Grant, Catch Up and Sports Funding.
• A specific visit to audit or support KS5 development (for schools with sixth forms).
Professional Development
• The adviser provides the role of External Adviser in supporting the Governor Appraisal Committee with headteacher appraisal (package B or C).
• Arranging mentor support for new and acting headteachers.
• Provision of Local Authority references for staff who apply for a headship post.
• Access to coaching conversations for all staff.
Governance
• Support for Governing Boards with brokering External Review of Governance or support from within Lancashire.
• Full support for Governing Boards in the recruitment of a headteacher, deputy headteacher and assistant headteacher (Packages B, C and additional commissions).
• Support in exploring, establishing or joining a multi-academy trust.
• Bespoke professional development not covered within the Governor Services SLA.
Continue or Start your Relationship with Lancashire
Choose your package for a full year School Improvement Service Level Agreement (SISLA). If you wish to continue with your SISLA then there is no need to do anything, you will automatically be re-enrolled onto your current package.
Our advisory team are happy to discuss your experiences and requirements, so that your package is the perfect fit:
Elaine Cluet, 01772 532755, elaine.cluet@lancashire.gov.uk
Jonathan Marsh, 01772 516166, jonathan.marsh@lancashire.gov.uk
Gary Whiting, 01772 516166, gary.whiting@lancashire.gov.uk
General enquiries, 01257 516166, advisory.support@lancashire.gov.uk
If you would like specific elements of the SISLA, but not a full package, please contact a member of our team.
Terms and Conditions
If in the event your adviser is unavailable, we guarantee to provide you with an immediate substitute, with another named adviser or associate adviser. If you no longer wish to renew your SISLA, then we ask that you inform us via email advisory.support@lancashire.gov.uk and via the portal no less than three months before the renewal due date. We reserve the right to withdraw any SISLA product/package at any time, but will provide a notice period of at least 28 days.
The cost of the SISLA is non-refundable for the year in which it is taken out.
If you have any complaints about the quality of service you receive against the SISLA, please make direct contract with a Senior Adviser, who will seek to resolve this.
"The support we have received from our Local Authority advisor has been nothing short of exceptional. His expert knowledge, strategic insights, and commitment to student outcomes have been invaluable in helping our schools thrive. The advisor has empowered our leadership team to make informed decisions that benefit both our staff and students. Our relationship with the LA advisor has been collaborative and built on mutual respect. They have worked closely with me, as the Executive Headteacher, Heads of School, and my leadership team, offering insights and suggestions while always respecting our school’s vision and direction. His approach has been both constructive and encouraging, fostering a strong sense of partnership that has empowered us to make meaningful improvements."
Headteacher, Hope High School / The Rose