Stronger Together
Red Kite Alliance members have a shared moral purpose to work together to improve the learning and achievement of all the young people in our schools.
We firmly believe that we are ‘stronger together’ and the partnership and collaboration between staff in our schools enables all our partners to benefit by both contributing to and receiving expertise and support from each other.
Peer Reviews
Peer reviews are a core component of the Red Kite Alliance, designed to improve the learning and achievement of students across member schools. These reviews allow schools to assess specific aspects of their work, such as key stages or the broader curriculum, while engaging in a process of self-evaluation and development. They provide external commentary, help identify strengths to be shared, and suggest areas for improvement, including brokered support within the Alliance. The reviews contribute to the school improvement cycle, ensuring schools receive constructive, informed challenge to improve outcomes.
Red Kite Improvement Partners
Red Kite Improvement Partners (RKIPs) offer Alliance members access to a broad range of school improvement support, including both internal system leaders and external consultants with expertise across various educational disciplines. Membership provides schools with credits each year to access services from The Directory, which includes support in areas such as self-evaluation, curriculum planning, SEND provision, subject knowledge development, inspection preparation, and performance management. Schools can use their credits for services like peer reviews, deep dives and professional learning, as well as recruitment or staff training.
Networks
Our networks are collaborative and supportive communities of practice for both primary and secondary schools. Secondary Subject Leads and Primary Core Subject Leads (English, Maths, Science) from alliance schools meet termly to network, share, and disseminate evidence-based approaches to subject pedagogy. There are also networks for leadership and support roles. Each group is led and coordinated by an Alliance Lead recruited from across the Alliance schools. All networks are further supported by either the Red Kite Alliance Research Lead or the Red Kite Alliance Primary Network Lead. These sessions, which also include case study sharing and resource exchange, foster professional collaboration and the development of best practices across schools.
RED Award
The Red Kite Alliance RED Award has been developed to support schools to review, strengthen and celebrate their provision in terms of equality, diversity, respect for individuals and community cohesion. Engagement with the award signals a clear commitment to place this agenda at the heart of the life and work of the school.
45 Alliance schools are currently engaged with the RED Award.
CPD and Partnerships
Red Kite Alliance holds conferences and CPD events, bespoke to meet the needs of our staff and school communities across the year. Biennially there are phase-specific Red Kite Day conferences enabling staff at all levels to come together, hear from renowned speakers and educational experts and hold workshops in their specialist areas. Additionally, we hold ‘Thought Leadership events for senior leaders, governors and trustees to discuss current educational issues and hear from national and regional experts in their respective fields.
The PTI (Professional Teaching Institute) - Red Kite Alliance has partnered with The PTI as a Secondary Hub, through which staff can access subject-specific CPD days tailored for our schools’ needs, access to leadership provision, subject days for teachers in their first 4 years of teaching and free online courses.
The Ogden Trust - Red Kite Alliance is partnered with The Ogden Trust, a charitable organisation whose mission is to support physics education and engagement for all young people (4-18) to increase the uptake of physics post 16. Our 5-year partnership provides free CPD and resources from EYFS to Post 16 with funding for enrichment events such as science fairs, inter-school competitions and school trips for students.
MHFA England - Red Kite Alliance has qualified MHFA instructors, trained with MHFA England, whose courses are grounded in research and developed with clinical practitioners. They deliver a range of Mental Health First Aid courses, proven to increase MHFAiders confidence in supporting people with mental health issues and their own self-care.
Red Kite Teacher Training
Red Kite Teacher Training is one of the largest school-based providers of teacher training. They work in partnership with schools across the region and the University of Leeds to train new teachers who are confident in the classroom and sought after by future employers.
Red Kite Alliance schools play a vital role in Red Kite Teacher Training, actively shaping the next generation of teachers. The majority of Alliance schools participate in the recruitment process, offer placements, host mini placements and provide subject and delivery leads. In 2024, 24% of Red Kite Teacher Training graduates secured employment within Alliance schools, demonstrating the strong connection between training and career opportunities.
Red Kite Teaching School Hub
Red Kite Teaching School Hub is one of 87 centres of excellence for teacher training and development. Through the Teaching School Hub, Red Kite Alliance schools benefit from a comprehensive range of services, including Appropriate Body support, the Early Career Framework (ECF), and the full suite of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs).
During the 2023/24 academic year, Red Kite Alliance schools were actively involved in these areas:
- 161 participants undertook NPQ programmes,
- 114 Early Career Teachers (ECTs) engaged with the ECF, and
- 44 schools accessed Appropriate Body services.
In addition, Red Kite Alliance schools contributed to the success of these initiatives by providing 14 facilitators to support and deliver training across the various programmes.
Red Kite Connect
Red Kite Connect is a new strand of Red Kite Education, the team that supports Red Kite Alliance, Teacher Training and Teaching School Hub. The aim of this new strand is to provide and signpost to innovative and collaborative professional development for all school colleagues by leveraging strong strategic partnerships and drawing on expertise from across the system, creating tailored development opportunities that meet local and regional needs. The approach will focus on sharing best practice and fostering sustained, impactful professional networks across all schools. Red Kite Alliance members will be eligible for discounts on some courses.
