Manifesto for Change
The Manifesto is the visioning document that will underpin the Building Staffordshire's Future, it sets out our intention to improve the lives of children and young people, their families and communities throughout Staffordshire.
Download the 
Manifesto for Change (PDF, 746 kb)
About the Manifesto for Change
This Manifesto for Change deliberately sets challenging targets for us to achieve. It has emerged from over a year of research, development and consultation and captures the scale and intensity of the challenge we face. Our decisions will shape the outcomes for children and young people in Staffordshire for generations to come. It is an awesome responsibility but if we get it right then we will:
- Ensure that every child matters - to ensure that the change for children programme touches everyone working with children and young people
- Put learners first - to ensure that we plan to meet the needs of all learners and make sure that their parents and carers are fully engaged
- Re-energise and regenerate local communities so that they can live up to the ambitions of young people
- Help to make a vibrant and inclusive economy
Our Manifesto for Change has 10 key ambitions - together they will Build Staffordshire's Future:
1. To ensure that we raise achievement across all outcomes
2. To develop a learning culture in schools, organisations and local communities
3. To create a culture where every child matters
4. To create a culture of mutual respect
5. To ensure that learning develops creative and enterprising young people who have the ability, skills and desire to learn
6. To ensure that all young people are engaged in education, training or employment with training up to the age of 18
7. To ensure that all young people, particularly those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, have the opportunity to grow and develop in an environment alongside young people of their own age
8. To create an exciting and enjoyable learning programme which gets learners involved in long term, problem-solving challenges
9. To ensure that every young person has a personalised learning programme
10. To ensure that we provide the leadership that allows these ambitions to become a reality
1. To ensure that we raise achievement across all outcomes
The Every Child Matters: Change for Children Programme shows us why we need to look at every aspect of young people's lives to know how we can help them make the best of their future. We know that in the UK, and in Staffordshire there is a very wide gap between those young people who are successful in school and those who are not. We know that there are many reasons why young people are unsuccessful in learning - health, safety and security, not knowing how to make the best of the opportunities available to them, low ambition and self-esteem. When we also consider the lack of opportunity in some local communities we can see that there is very little incentive to make the effort that will be needed to overcome the barriers to learning. We need to understand all of the factors that are affecting learning and make sure that we are taking action where needed. Building Staffordshire's Future will make high achievement for all a reality.
To find out how we will achieve this ambition and what we expect to see as a result please download our
Manifesto for Change (PDF, 746 kb)
2. To develop a learning culture in schools, organisations and local communities
When we looked at successful schools and successful learners we were constantly struck by the investment made in developing a culture of learning. We saw every adult and young person excited by learning, challenged and supported and that this spread to parents, carers and the local community. There was a real sense of purpose, everyone felt included and rewarded by the work they were doing and the rewards they would achieve. Each place we visited achieved success in different ways but what they shared was a real sense of common purpose - people believed in what they were doing. Building Staffordshire's Future will develop a learning community across the County.
To find out how we will achieve this ambition and what we expect to see as a result please download our
Manifesto for Change (PDF, 746 kb)
3. To create a culture where every child matters
We have used the slogan - Learners First to guide our thinking, planning and action. We know that success in learning is one of the most potent forces to open up life chances for all of us. It makes the greatest possible difference. We also know that there are equally potent forces working against vulnerable groups and individuals that get in the way of learning. Building Staffordshire's Future will find ways to make sure that we put Learners First.
To find out how we will achieve this ambition and what we expect to see as a result please download our
Manifesto for Change (PDF, 746 kb)
4. To create a culture of mutual respect
We were struck by the contrast between schools where young people (and adults) felt valued and those where they were less positive. There was a very real difference where leaders set out to create a climate of mutual respect and were prepared to take radical and challenging decisions to make it a reality. We saw a real investment in how children learn, how they are supported, how everyone works together and how communication is open and honest.
To find out how we will achieve this ambition and what we expect to see as a result please download our
Manifesto for Change (PDF, 746 kb)
5. To ensure that learning develops creative and enterprising young people who have the ability, skills and desire to learn
It's not only what you learn, but also how you learn it. The greatest challenge we face now is to recognise that young people need to develop skills and aptitudes that are very different from those we teach today. We know that the future will require greater self-reliance, flexibility and creativity than we develop in schools today. Building Staffordshire's Future will put in place a creative and enterprising curriculum.
To find out how we will achieve this ambition and what we expect to see as a result please download our
Manifesto for Change (PDF, 746 kb)
6. To ensure that all young people are engaged in education, training or employment with training up to the age of 18
Staffordshire's future will depend on a vibrant local and regional economy. We have lived through the turbulence created through the closure of traditional industries, particularly mining and the potteries. Whilst there has been significant investment in regenerating the local economy, we still lack a broad range of opportunities in entrepreneurial, creative, professional, managerial and administrative occupations. This has a real impact on young people's and local community aspiration. Building Staffordshire's Future will create more incentives for young people (and their parents) to achieve the qualifications which will open up employment opportunities.
To find out how we will achieve this ambition and what we expect to see as a result please download our
Manifesto for Change (PDF, 746 kb)
7. To ensure that all young people, particularly those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, have the opportunity to grow and develop in an environment alongside young people of their own age
We know that young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities become increasingly hidden in our society. Legislation will make sure that our facilities are as open as possible to everyone in the community. We know that there are real advantages to creating multi-function sites - co-locating services alongside each other. Building Staffordshire's Future will make sure that we are using the skills and expertise we have in our workforce and also make best use of new school building to co-locate special provision.
To find out how we will achieve this ambition and what we expect to see as a result please download our
Manifesto for Change (PDF, 746 kb)
8. To create an exciting and enjoyable learning programme which gets learners involved in long term, problem-solving challenges
We have seen examples of very successful schools where young people are expected to undertake complex and challenging long-term tasks. We have seen the outcomes - confident, successful, articulate and enthusiastic learners. We know that we will need to create a learning platform that provides access to resources, tasks, assessments and guidance to support such learning. We also know that gifted and inspiring teaching is essential to shape and guide learning.
To find out how we will achieve this ambition and what we expect to see as a result please download our
Manifesto for Change (PDF, 746 kb)
9. To ensure that every young person has a personalised learning programme
Most young people learn successfully in groups, especially when they are involved in creative, experimental, sporting and cultural activities. This will continue to be the experience of most young people when they are at school. However, the learning programmes available to young people are increasingly diverse. Young people do also take learning home and into the community. We will ensure that every learner has the support they need to develop an individual learning programme.
To find out how we will achieve this ambition and what we expect to see as a result please download our
Manifesto for Change (PDF, 746 kb)
10. To ensure that we provide the leadership that allows these ambitions to become a reality
We have met leaders who are pioneering new ways of working in schools and their local communities. We have, through them gained an insight into the new challenges that we all face if we are to deliver transformed learning for Staffordshire's communities. We will support leaders throughout schools and the community to understand the challenges that need to be overcome and to develop further the skills and abilities which they will need to deliver Building Staffordshire's Future.
To find out how we will achieve this ambition and what we expect to see as a result please download our
Manifesto for Change (PDF, 746 kb)
During 2008 we consulted with a range of key stakeholders about the Manifesto. The results of this consultation will be made availible online shortly.
There are a number of documents that fit with the Manifesto for Change to provide a comprehensive picture of how we hope to achieve our ambitions. The Technology for Learning Vision and Generic Models of School Organisation documents are also available on this website and further visioning documents will be published shortly.
Last Modified:
31/10/2008 15:04:17
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