A School Development Plan (SDP) is a strategic plan that outlines our Federation's priorities, actions, and resources to improve standards and outcomes. It is a working document that's used to monitor progress throughout the year.

The SDP emphasises that school improvement is first and foremost the responsibility of the schools aligned with the Trust (LDLT). There are over-arching trust priorities which the Federation makes bespoke for our schools based on the premise that schools themselves are best placed to identify areas for improvement and to implement changes that can bring about better outcomes for pupils.  

Self-evaluation leading to sustained self-improvement is therefore at the core of the school improvement strategy.  Effective self-evaluation, and the actions that result, should deliver improved educational outcomes and experiences for all pupils. Self-evaluation must be an integral part of the school development planning process with the resulting actions and targets captured in School Development Plans (SDPs).

The SDP is a strategic plan for improvement. It should bring together, in a clear and simple way, the school’s priorities, the main measures it will take to raise standards, the resources dedicated to these, and the key outcomes and targets it intends to achieve.