Learning from Excellence: Axium's Insightful Journey to the Western Cape

Have you ever wondered what makes certain schools stand out in their practices, particularly in areas of coaching and pathways work? What if we could bring those practices back to enhance our schools in the rural Eastern Cape? These were the questions that fueled Axium’s recent trip to the Western Cape, a journey aimed at uncovering powerful insights and strategies from schools and School Operating Partners (SOPs) renowned for their robust practices.

Axium team at the airport

The mission was clear: to expose our field staff to the advanced practices in the Western Cape, specifically focusing on school-based coaching through School Management Teams (SMTs) and the implementation of the Pathways work. “We were not driven by the notion that Western Cape schools were better, but by the belief that they were at an advanced stage in their SMT coaching practices. This presented a valuable cross-learning opportunity for both regions.” - Mr Chirumanzi, Axium’s Head of School Development and Coaching

Imagine the excitement of meeting different people and organizations who share your passion for education. Ms Somlenze, Axium’s Senior Pathways Officer, captured this sentiment perfectly:

"My favourite part of the Cape Town trip was meeting different people/organizations doing the same work that we do. Information sharing was really powerful and made me feel proud that people also learned from us and I learned a lot from them. We are excited to integrate these new learnings into our daily practices of providing career guidance and nurturing our alumni community.”

The trip was led by Mr Chirumanzi. He was accompanied by two Deputy Principals from the Public School Partnerships (PSP) high schools, along with a passionate team of coaches and instructional leaders. This diverse group was united in their mission to learn and bring back practices that could be adapted and implemented in our rural schools in the Eastern Cape.

For a school to become a model of excellence in coaching, “we realised in our visit that it took the Common Good team over seven years to reach their current status, and Apex Schools more than six years to perfect their SMT coaching model” - Mr Chirumanzi. One crucial element was consistency, with frequent classroom visits by SMTs and Principals being essential in creating successful habits.

I've learned that using student data to inform our daily teaching practices helps us identify learning gaps and improve instructional strategies to meet our students' needs. I'm excited to apply this learning at Axium and in schools by ensuring that our plans empower our school management teams to be effective training facilitators and instructional leaders. - Mr Mbiza, Axium’s Senior Phase and FET Coach

Axium aims to create a sustainable model that ensures new teachers inherit valuable skills from their predecessors, and this is precisely what the SMT coaching approach strives to achieve. When teachers transfer, they take their skills with them, but if SMTs possess these skills, they can pass them on to new teachers, making the approach sustainable. According to Mr Chirumanzi, this model helps address the critical question: ‘How can we support schools without taking on the responsibility of the school?”

In the Western Cape, there has been a shift from directly supporting teachers through external Coaches to supporting them through School Leadership. This means that SOP Coaches coach the SMTs, who in turn coach the teachers. This approach has several advantages:

• Improved Attendance: When SMTs lead training, attendance reaches 100%.

• Engagement: SMTs, knowing the gaps intimately, engage more effectively in content training sessions and develop ways to close these gaps.

• School Walks: Routine school walks by SMTs to collect data inform training needs and support curriculum decisions.

• Real-Time Feedback (RTF): Daily support through RTF is a cornerstone of the coaching model at Apex High School.

When it comes to inspired implementation, Axium wants to see the very concepts our SMTs have been trained in working effectively in real schools. This reality was witnessed by our team as they saw the Get Better Faster Scope and Sequence (GBF S&S) in action. Interviews with two high school principals revealed significant improvements in results due to this coaching practice. Inspired, the Eastern Cape Deputy Principals committed to implementing this coaching approach in their schools.

Mr Madotyeni, one of the Deputy Principals, shared his reflections:

“I really don't regret coming here. From the three schools that I visited, I was thrilled by the way they do things. I learnt a multitude of things, from morning routines to well-managed period transitions. I do, you do, we do.”

Mr Magaqa also reflected on the experience:

“The experience was truly enriching and eye-opening. It provided me with an opportunity to see most of the concepts Axium Coaches have been introducing being implemented in real classrooms. I look forward to being an ambassador for coaching in my school and implementing routines that promote teaching and learning.”

Axium team visiting one of the WC schools

This trip has not only equipped the team with valuable insights but has also ignited a renewed passion for excellence in our educational endeavours. The lessons learned will profoundly impact our learners and improve the school culture. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from our counterparts in the Western Cape and are excited to implement these practices in the Eastern Cape.