Audit tools
Successful linking should make a strong positive impact on your whole school. Linking projects can work as the starting point for improvements in community cohesion that continue for years following the first project. Successful community cohesion can be measured in many aspects of school life, such as how many opportunities students have to enjoy, varied cultural experiences or to learn how migrations throughout history have helped to shape our society. It addresses current political issues, both local and global, and even very young children start to understand their developing responsibility as young citizens through vibrant linking work.
The DCLG guidance on the duty to promote community cohesion states that:
Broadly, school’s contribution to community cohesion can be grouped under the three following headings:
- Teaching, Learning and Curriculum
- Equity and Excellence Audit
- Community Engagement, Extended Services.
In response to this, iCoCo developed the following simple auditing tools to help schools gain a clear picture of how well they fulfil their duty, with a view to helping them identify areas for improvement and where a link could be most useful.
SLN recommends these audit tools as a starting point to evaluate a school’s position in relation to community cohesion and as a starting point for action planning. This also provides a strong foundation for building stronger, safer and more resilient communities.
iCoCo Teaching Learning and Curriculum Audit 1.
iCoCo Equity and Excellence Audit 2.
iCoCo Community Engagement and Extended Services Audit 3.
Ofsted guidance on completion of the Self evaluation form (SEF).
National College: Interactive Community Cohesion Tool
This tool is designed for use by school leaders to help achieve clarity around the community cohesion agenda and how it contributes to many areas of the SEF. It enables a school to audit its current situation, track progress over time and successfully promote community cohesion in and around the school.
