It is change, continuing change, inevitable change that is the dominant factor in society today. No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be. . . . (Isaac Asimov)

As the world changes there is a continuous need for schools and LEAs to take on new ideas and innovations, to make sense of them and make them work at the local level. The most crucial issue facing all organisations in the education service is to maintain continual improvement in pupils’ achievement during a period of sustained social, economic, technological and legislative change.

Many approaches and methods that were successful in the past are made redundant by changing circumstances and expectations. If schools and LEAs fail to change and adapt they will become increasingly out of touch. These pressures make leadership highly complex. They require headteachers and others to provide effective solutions to current issues and new responses to often dimly signposted future challenges.

As an organisation we are strongly focused on the management of change. We believe that:

• Change is inevitable
• Organisations can be better or worse equipped to respond to change
• Failure to respond to change means the school (or LEA) is increasingly out of touch with its community and the needs of its pupils
• The development of schools and LEAs as ‘learning organisations’ will best enable them to respond positively to the challenges of change
• A school’s (or LEA's) capacity to deliver high performance and respond effectively to change will be enhanced by working in close, collaborative partnerships with other organisations.

Learning Organisations

To respond to the challenge of change schools need to develop as ‘learning organisations’. These are:

'…organisations where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continually learning to see the whole together.' (Peter Senge)

The basic rationale for learning organisations is that in situations of rapid change only those that are flexible, adaptive and productive will excel. For this to happen, it is argued, organisations need to discover how to tap peoples’ 'commitment and capacity to learn at all levels’ (Senge).

If you would like to discuss our “One School™” approach further please contact jacqui@cocentra.com

Alternatively, please call 0845 009 4010 and ask to talk to Jacqui or order a Cocentra brochure.