The Schools Workforce Partnership

‘Delivering Excellence for the Children’s Workforce in Schools’

STAR is the lead partner in The Schools Workforce Partnership (SWP).The SWP is an alliance of organisations committed to promoting progression and excellent practice within schools to develop a world class children’s workforce.

Operating nationally, with a wealth of expertise we provide support and disseminate best practice to Local Authorities, Schools and other stakeholders that support schools in the training and development of the children’s workforce.

We work with a range of partners including the Training and Development Agency (TDA), to promote progression, excellent practice and influence national policies to meet the needs of a rapidly changing sector.

The SWP’s four partners first came together in 2004 under the title The School Support Staff Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE). In July 2009 the CoVE status for the partnership came to an end. As a result of this, the partners, STAR, Lancashire County Council, Staffordshire County Council and Blackburn College agreed to continue working together with refocused responsibilities and purpose under the name The Schools Workforce Partnership.

Since our inception, the partnership, supported by board representation from TDA, LSC and Unison (representing the staff perspective) has been involved in:

  • Developing new qualifications for School Support Staff, including the Support Work in Schools (SWiS) qualification.
  • Piloting and delivering Parent Support Adviser VQs.
  • Supporting national conferences and regional events, disseminating best practice and promoting CPD to stakeholders in the wider children’s workforce.
  • Developing and implementing online training needs analysis and planning tools.
  • Raising Level 2/3 qualification achievement and supported progression routes.
  • Delivering VQs and NVQs to the wider children’s workforce.
  • Developing School apprenticeship programmes.
  • Developing and publishing Support Work in Schools (SWiS) VQ workbooks.
  • Supporting the developments in HLTA status.
  • Providing input and membership to national bodies/boards and consultation events e.g. TQS part B and the Induction Adviser Group.

The Partnership’s Vision

To support the children’s workforce in schools to access a range of affordable training which promotes progression and excellent practice based on a quality approach, meeting the needs of both employers and the rapidly changing workforce.

The Partnership’s Mission

The Partnership will help to develop a world class children’s workforce in schools and in the wider children’s workforce that:

  • Strives to achieve the best possible outcomes for all children and young people.
  • Is confident, competent and safe to work with children and young people.
  • Enables people to aspire to be part of and want to stay as part of the children’s workforce where they can develop skills and build satisfying and rewarding careers.
  • Parents, children and young people truly respect.