Our summer term staff innovation fund update
By Will Durham
Following its successful launch last year, it is wonderful to have the Staff Innovation Fund running again this year with an increased annual budget of £15,000.
The fund is designed to help teaching staff trial new ideas and approaches in their subjects, while also providing resources to strengthen and sustain what is already working well. Every project funded is focused on improving the learning experience of pupils at William Ellis School, and we have now begun tracking the impact of successful projects from the fund’s first two rounds.
Applications were open to William Ellis staff from the start of the Summer term until Friday 8 May. A panel of three trustees met on Friday 22 May, alongside Headteacher Izzy Jones, to review applications and allocate funding.
Trustees awarded £6,612 across six projects from a total of nine applications, representing a success rate of 67%. The successful projects were:
Access to audio and e-books through a set of tablets, headphones and secure storage
Support from The Brilliant Club for Year 10 and Year 12 pupils to undertake greater depth projects alongside tutoring from current PhD students
A Year 9 street art project to enhance the school environment and encourage reflection on the school motto, “Rather Use Than Fame”
New Key Stage 3 curriculum resources to strengthen subject knowledge and support lesson cover across departments
Visualisers for business and economics teaching to support live discussion of graphs, key concepts and pupil work
A new set of headphones for modern foreign languages to improve listening, speaking and audio recording skills
These resources and initiatives create opportunities that would not otherwise be possible within departmental budgets, while also supporting key school priorities. Projects funded this year range from improving literacy and reading engagement through to collaborative work that strengthens the wider school community through art. It is fantastic to be able to provide an additional source of support for both teaching and support staff.
The remaining funding will be allocated during the Autumn term to maximise the impact of projects across the academic year.
The Staff Innovation Fund is one of the Trust’s three key funding streams to the school, alongside the Leadership Fund and Trustee Fund. It is funded annually through income generated by the Trust’s investment portfolio, with additional in-year support made possible through donations from supporters, trusts and foundations.
If you would like to support our work, please consider making a one-off donation through our donate page or joining our growing regular giving initiative, the Rather Use Than Fame Club.