What is a COP?
What is a COP?
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COPs are:-
‘Groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly’
Etienne and Beverly Wenger‐Trayner (2015) Communities of practice a brief introduction. Wenger Traynor
Etienne Wenger is a leading voice on Communities of Practice and both an educational theorist and practitioner.
COP has similarities to a generic meeting or Forum but involves learning how to do things better!
‘A forum is a place, situation, or group in which people exchange ideas and discuss issues, especially important public issue’. - Collins Dictionary
This ignores the aspiration to do things better! Which is why we formulate COPs and believe this is so important for the Blackpool Resilience Revolution.
Why have a COP? What’s the Point?
Blackpool Headstart Community of Practice (COP) membership includes Resilience Champions from all our schools. They initially met and collectively decided that their aim was to improve resilience in Blackpool’s young people. With support from the facilitator they identified the concept of the Headstart Blackpool’s School COP as being:
Shared interest
‘A commitment to improve practice to ensure that schools can work effectively themselves and with other agencies to raise the resilience of all children and their families in Blackpool’
Schools already have plenty to contribute to effective practice including creativity, intellectual knowledge, experience and practical examples of what works
Benefits
An opportunity for personal growth, support and inspiration with like-minded people and those with a different perspective.
An opportunity for professional development- broadening horizons, sharing good practice in building resilience and learning from each other, from evidence and from research.
An opportunity to gather practical advice, resources and ideas and turn these into actions that will have a demonstrable positive impact on building resilience.
The effectiveness of the Community of Practice in delivering these things will be evaluated on an ongoing basis.
Quotes from COP members……………………………
Quotes from COP members……………………………
It was really interesting in terms of what Headstart is about
It was interesting to hear about Headstart in other counties and other schools further along the line
The pupil voice session was powerful, discussing how it helps develop resilience I will look at more opportunities for pupils moving forward next year
We would like to see improved engagement of other schools at the COP, more opportunity to discuss things with other secondary schools. Look at what pupils are saying our priorities should be and work more collaboratively.
We like that the subject is a different direction each time
It’s useful to hear other people’s ideas and things you have taken for granted in your own school
I really enjoy the COP get together, they focus on really helpful areas of interest
Student voice and parental engagement was great. Listening to parents and looking to improve along with learning from what some primary schools have in place
For more information on Communities of Practice, along with dates and times please contact the Resilient Schools Co-ordinator kerry.burrow@blackpool.gov.uk
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