What is the process to obtain an award?

We can support schools in beginning their assessment journey by offering a whole school training and audit package that help share the evidence base for effective practice. Staff identify strengths and weaknesses based on each framing principle which allows them to come together in groups to discuss the fundamental DNA of what they do in school as well as identify what they can do to improve further.

Participation in the process creates buy in by allowing staff to feel done with rather than done to which builds relational trust. During training, it is made clear to staff that the person with the greatest responsibility for their welfare is the individual concerned and suggestions will be made on how they might best do this. It is up to leaders to create the conditions for wellbeing to thrive through the climate and culture they create but individuals have a duty to play their part as well. Creating psychological safety for staff to share their views can be a powerful foundation for the creation of a high-performing culture.

WQM also offer pupil and parent surveys that let stakeholder know that their views are important and matter to leaders, creating a truly multi-perspective approach to improvement. These can be conducted electronically by WQM to ensure confidentiality prior to assessment and outcomes shared with leaders.

At its most fundamental the award gives leaders a blueprint of what they need to consider to build capacity and run a successful school where emotional wellbeing for pupils and staff is prioritised alongside academic achievement. It does not dictate what to do but rather ensures schools are able to achieve aligned agency based on the contextual wisdom of leaders.

This is particularly beneficial for groups of schools because it enables all of them to be givers and receivers of support depending on their relative strengths and areas for development.
It also supports succession planning by ensuring leaders at all levels have a shared and coherent evidence-informed mental model for improvement through the lens of wellbeing.

As Andy Buck writes in the introduction to Building Belonging,
‘To paraphrase Dylan Williams Everything will work somewhere; nothing works everywhere; the question is what will work for us, now’

The challenge for leaders is to work out what that might be based on what they know about their school by drawing on the views of all stakeholders.

The staff audit can be delivered on an INSET day, over 2 extended twilight sessions or can be done electronically in advance. The audit outcomes can be used to support school self-evaluation as well as highlight areas to inform the improvement plan. WQM recommend that SLT access training prior to undertaking the process which can be accessed remotely if required and allow them to conduct the audits themselves.

Schools complete the WQM self-evaluation form over a period of time until they are able to demonstrate evidence of meeting all 7 Framing Principles. This will be supported by WQM who will ensure that only when they are ready will schools be assessed. They can then agree on a date for the assessment days to occur and WQM can provide electronic surveys for pupils, parents and staff to be sent out prior to the visit. The agenda is set by the school but we would expect to see evidence from pupils, parents and teacher’s surveys and then hear from staff, governors, SLT and staff on the day.

Data from the audits is a useful tool to ensure those responsible for governance avoid wilful blindness by hearing directly from stakeholders which can act as an early warning system to highlight potential concerns. Assessors from WQM will ensure that all meetings are developmental for staff concerned in order to further build capacity. It is not necessary for schools to complete training before undergoing assessment although we recommend that they do for SLT at least in order to understand the research underpinning the approach to shape school culture and create buy in. This can be completed remotely or delivered in person.