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The Power of Collaboration
14th March 2025
Education is most effective when it is seen as a continuous journey, not a collection of separate stages. At Tillingbourne, we work hard to ensure that our children’s learning builds seamlessly on their prior experiences. With up to 12 feeder infant schools and more than six secondary schools receiving our pupils, this isn’t always easy! Every child arrives with different experiences, and it’s our job to bring those together through a well-planned curriculum that gives them the best possible start in Year 3 and prepares them for success beyond Year 6.
Recently, I was inspired by the work of the Reach Academy in Feltham, where children move from Nursery to A-levels within the same setting. Their approach ensures that learning is carefully sequenced across all phases. It got me thinking—how can we achieve this same level of continuity within our own trust schools? The academy model presents a powerful opportunity to strengthen curriculum alignment between settings, ensuring that knowledge and skills are reinforced and deepened as children transition from one phase to the next.
There are several practical ways we, as educators, can foster this alignment:
· Make time for school visits – Seeing where pupils have come from (or where they’re going next) is invaluable in understanding their journey.
· Know what’s being taught before and after your key stage – Familiarity with the curriculum beyond our own phase helps us to make meaningful links and avoid unnecessary duplication.
· Work with subject leaders across schools – Aligning key concepts and using a shared language makes transitions between schools much smoother for pupils.
· Create opportunities to work together – Whether it’s joint projects, shared CPD, or informal conversations, collaboration between schools benefits everyone.
Ultimately, education works best when we see ourselves as part of a bigger picture. As Helen Keller once said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
Education is most effective when it is seen as a continuous journey, not a collection of separate stages. At Tillingbourne, we work hard to ensure that our children’s learning builds seamlessly on their prior experiences. With up to 12 feeder infant schools and more than six secondary schools receiving our pupils, this isn’t always easy! Every child arrives with different experiences, and it’s our job to bring those together through a well-planned curriculum that gives them the best possible start in Year 3 and prepares them for success beyond Year 6.
Recently, I was inspired by the work of the Reach Academy in Feltham, where children move from Nursery to A-levels within the same setting. Their approach ensures that learning is carefully sequenced across all phases. It got me thinking—how can we achieve this same level of continuity within our own trust schools? The academy model presents a powerful opportunity to strengthen curriculum alignment between settings, ensuring that knowledge and skills are reinforced and deepened as children transition from one phase to the next.
There are several practical ways we, as educators, can foster this alignment:
· Make time for school visits – Seeing where pupils have come from (or where they’re going next) is invaluable in understanding their journey.
· Know what’s being taught before and after your key stage – Familiarity with the curriculum beyond our own phase helps us to make meaningful links and avoid unnecessary duplication.
· Work with subject leaders across schools – Aligning key concepts and using a shared language makes transitions between schools much smoother for pupils.
· Create opportunities to work together – Whether it’s joint projects, shared CPD, or informal conversations, collaboration between schools benefits everyone.
Ultimately, education works best when we see ourselves as part of a bigger picture. As Helen Keller once said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
