Local cluster partnerships

A local cluster partnership can include primary schools, secondary schools, or ideally a mix of both. The schools in a local cluster are not associated through a relationship such as a multi-academy trust. (If you are part of a multi-academy trust, or similar, please apply for an established collaboration partnership).

A local cluster partnership can apply for up to £2,500 per academic year for the first three years and £1,000 in the fourth year for activities to enhance the teaching and learning of physics. A small grant is also available to active legacy* partnerships.

*partnerships continuing to work together after their fifth year

In addition to this, The Ogden Trust provides annual Phizzi CPD for primary schools registered in a partnership, to a value of £250 per school for four years. Phizzi Forward supports the use of Phizzi CPD resources and curriculum mapping in a partnership’s fifth year. Secondary schools in a partnership will receive KS3 CPD in the first year of a partnership. We are currently piloting support networks and CPD for secondary technicians and primary teaching assistants. In the fifth year, partnerships continue to access support and coaching, including signposting to alternative bursaries, with a final report at the end of the year to demonstrate sustainability.

A partnership co-ordinator, usually at the lead school, will be the main point of contact for the partnership. A time buy-out of half a day a week (at a set rate of £3,000 for 0.1 FTE) is available for the partnership co-ordinator** in the first year of a partnership. The teacher must have half day per week timetable release guaranteed for the full year. This time should be used to build links with other schools, develop a sustainable partnership model, share planning and delivery between partnership teachers, and communicate with the Trust (reporting, sending meeting minutes, etc).

Applying for this is optional and will not affect your overall application for the School Partnerships programme.

**The time buy-out is for class teachers leading a partnership, it is not available for independent schools or for senior leaders.

Partnership funding is held by the designated hub school (usually the lead teacher’s school) however all members of the partnership should share the workload of organising partnership activities and all schools should be able to access the funded activities.

Partnership co-ordinators will be invited to a Year 1 induction event in the autumn and an annual conference in the summer, which encourages networking and sharing of best practice. Each partnership will receive support from an Ogden regional representative throughout their partnership and into their legacy phase at the end of five years.

Following the expression of interest deadline (1 February), there will be an assessment period (up to five weeks) to review all submissions.

The lead contact will be notified regarding the outcome of the application. If successful, the lead applicant will be invited to bid for partnership funding.

Applications open annually between September and February.