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Schools II

'Making a Difference' Reducing Red Tape and Bureaucracy in Schools - Second Report [PDF 793KB, 82 pages] was a collaborative project between the unit and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

Scope

The project focused on reducing unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy imposed on front line staff, such as teachers and other staff in schools, local education authorities and professional bodies in England and Wales. The reduction, and in some cases removal, of these burdens will allow both front-line staff to spend more time performing their core duties, spending more time managing offenders and reducing crime, and less time filling out forms.

Background

Following an initial study on reducing paperwork in primary schools in December 2000, the unit was asked to conduct a further study with DfES, investigating in more detail areas of red tape and bureaucracy within secondary schools, as identified in the Pricewaterhousecoopers report.

Approach

Over 500 front line staff in 40 secondary schools and 15 Local Education Authorities interviewed about burdens and bureaucracy. From this initial research, over 100 issues were identified as being burdensome and these were then prioritised according to the impact of removing or simplifying that particular burden.

Key Achievements

The culmination of the efforts and hard work of both front-line staff and policy officials within DfES resulted in the publication of the report 'Making a Difference' Reducing Red Tape and Bureaucracy in Schools - Second Report [PDF 793KB, 82 pages]. This outlines 125 specific and time bound solutions agreed between DfES and the Cabinet Office that will reduce or remove burdens from a cross-section of staff in eight main themes:

• Pupil Management Issues;
• Special Education Needs (SEN);
• Assessments and Examinations;
• Raising Standards;
• Communicating with Schools;
• Statistics and Information Management;
• Interface with other Departments and Agencies;
• Staffing Issues.

An implementation strategy has been agreed with DIES to ensure that commitments are effectively implemented and disseminated back to the front line. The Implementation Review Unit and Departmental Ministers have been regularly updated on progress made and the unit has collaboratively worked with policy officials within DfES to ensure that monitoring remains effective and any slippage is addressed and mitigated against.

Next Steps

Responsibility for delivery rests with the stakeholders. An evaluation methodology is currently being agreed with DfES to measure the success of agreed measures and benefits to the front line. It will aim to include a combination of qualitative and quantitative measurements, including the use of case studies and regional front line workshops.

For further enquires or information please contact the unit at psinfo@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk.