Learning schools

Turning schools into learning schools

This section is the main core of the MESH Guide and introduces the idea of schools as learning organisations. Schools as learning organisations (SLOs) is proving a very popular concept in policy and in practice for those schools seeking long term change and improvement (Doherty, 2018; Doherty, 2020; Harris & Jones, 2018; OECD, (2016); Welsh Government, 2017). Creating such schools requires a significant cultural shift, often a change of mind-set and definitely a schoolwide commitment to self-reflection and evaluation.

The “schools as learning organisations” model (OECD, 2016) focuses on 7 dimensions:

1. Developing and sharing a vision centred on the learning of all students
2. Creating and supporting continuous learning opportunities for all staff
3. Promoting team learning and collaboration among all staff
4. Establishing a culture of inquiry, exploration and innovation
5. Embedding systems for collecting and exchanging knowledge and learning
6. Learning with and from the external environment and larger learning system
7. Modelling and growing learning leadership

In the fast changing landscape of education, schools that thrive are those where learning is central to everything they do. Successful schools replace ‘schooling’ for learning. They embrace that learning is multi layered and involves not only pupil learning but that of all staff and other stakeholders. They create cultures, systems and structures that support “learning to learn” on a whole school basis. These schools bring together shared values where everyone works toward a goal of sustained excellence in learning. They reflect on what they are doing and adapt accordingly. They are flexible to change. They do not stand still. They learn from themselves and from others and are committed to lifelong learning.

From a recent article I wrote I see the main components of schools as learning organisations are:

References

Doherty, J. (2018) Developing Learning Schools IMPACT: Journal of the Chartered

College of Teaching. Spring.

Doherty, J. (2020) Connecting people, learning and school systems through ‘learning schools’. Education Exchange, Chartered College of Teaching. July.

Harris, A. & Jones, M. (2018) Leading schools as learning organizations. School Leadership & Management, 38:4, 351-354.

OECD (2016) What Makes a School a Learning Organisation?  OECD Publishing, Paris. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264245914-en. 

Welsh Government (2017) Schools in Wales as learning organisations. https://beta.gov.wales/schools-learning-organisations-slo-overview.