Commissions
Learn Sheffield offers a variety of commissions to schools. These come from both Learn Sheffield and from our partners. The links below contain further information and the latest documents.
Commissions Information
Our starting point in the delivery of school improvement services to meet identified needs within schools will be, where possible, to deploy from our own resources (School Improvement Partners’ team) or broker from within the existing partnerships the school is involved in. When it is not possible to secure a high quality service in this way we will seek to procure school improvement services according to a consistent and effective commissioning process, which will also be used to identify schools or individuals for a wide range of activities in support of school improvement or Sheffield's priorities. The 'Learn Sheffield Commissioning Opportunity & Application Form' sets out the process for commissioning, as below, and is the standard form used for this process. We will also sometimes use the Learn Sheffield Expression of Interest Form when this is a more appropriate approach to sharing the opportunity.
Process for Commissioning
Our standard process for the procurement of school improvement services is below
- An anonymised advert placed on the Learn Sheffield website. The deadline for expressions of interest will sometimes be very short depending on circumstances.
- School improvement providers who are signed up to our mailing list email system will receive an email to make them aware of the commission.
- School improvement providers complete a short application form.
- The decision to award the commission is taken by Director of School Improvement (or any person delegated by them). This will sometimes follow discussion with a provider or providers. All decisions, both to discuss further and award, are solely at the discretion of Learn Sheffield.
- The School Improvement Partner and Learn Sheffield sign the standard commissioning contract, which can be found on our website along with other information.
- Learn Sheffield holds a regular (half termly) meeting open to providers to review system and provide a forum to discuss present/future significant commissions. The decision to discuss a commission in advance will generally be prompted by the size of the commission or because it has city wide impact implications, although this is also at the sole discretion of Learn Sheffield.
Our key principles, when considering our approach to commissioning are below.
These principles inform our approach:
- Transparent and open process
- Impartial decision making
- Quality assurance – effective evaluation
- Realistic – manageable and effective processes
- Support the interests of members
- Review – ongoing review of this system