ABSTRACT
This chapter examines one partnership between the London Education Authority (LEA), its schools and a higher education institution. It describes Lewisham LEA and its changing role since the Education Reform Act. The chapter explores the partnership between Lewisham, its schools and the Institute of Education at London University, embodied in the Lewisham School Improvement Project. Lewisham Education also recognizes the importance of providing 'added value' to the work of its schools and takes seriously its responsibility for providing educational leadership. A voluntary group of 15 teachers, head teachers, LEA advisers and officers have been working to identify and develop LEA and whole-school indicators of change, development and achievement. Dissemination within and beyond the LEA takes place. The chapter argues that one of the difficulties of schools taking responsibility for their own improvement is insufficient rigor in self-evaluation. It concludes with key elements of partnership approaches to improvement.
