Develop your school’s provision for more able learners, in the context of challenge for all.
Whatever your starting point and needs, you will find the NACE Challenge Development Programme invaluable within your school improvement cycle.
What is the Challenge Development Programme?
The NACE Challenge Development Programme is designed to support school leaders who are uncompromising in their ambition to ensure more able learners achieve their potential, in the context of challenge for all. The programme is
founded on the NACE Challenge Framework, a well-established tool for whole-school review and school improvement, with accompanying handbook, resources, consultancy, coaching, CPD and opportunities for school-to-school working.
Who is this for?
Comprehensive and robust in its criteria, the programme can be used by schools and clusters across all phases, sectors and contexts – including those already demonstrating good or outstanding provision for more able learners, as
well as those for whom this is a key area for improvement. It is regularly reviewed to ensure it supports current areas of emphasis in school improvement and accountability, including expectations set out in the Ofsted, Estyn,
ISI and other evaluation schedules.
Schools working through the programme can apply for Challenge Award school accreditation – external validation of high-quality provision for more able learners.
The programme is exclusively available to schools with current NACE membership. You can add on any of our NACE Challenge Development Programme packages when purchasing membership. Existing members can order here.
“The impact is not just to explore all aspects of provision for more able pupils, but to analyse and raise standards across the whole school, whilst providing the impetus for change.”
Angela Stanton, Headteacher, Alfreton Nursery School
“The Challenge Award has enabled us to continually reflect on and refine our practice to ensure high-quality provision for more able learners and our whole school community."
Laura March, Senior School Improvement Leader & MAT Coordinator, Southend High School for Boys
"The school has felt united, staff have been fully engaged, and all learners have benefitted from the setting of high expectations and more challenging approaches."
Bernie Mizzie, Director, Chiswick House School and St Martin’s College
Whether you want to focus on whole-school strategy, coordinate approaches across your trust or cluster, or inspire staff with ideas for classroom provision, we can develop a practical programme to meet your needs. All packages include access
to the Challenge Hub, plus:
1. NACE Challenge Framework, Handbook and 'getting started' call: £500
2. Framework and Handbook with consultancy: £950
3. Framework, Handbook, consultancy and bespoke CPD: £1,950
An established tool for whole-school review and school improvement focused on provision for more able learners, the NACE Challenge Framework provides a robust and comprehensive set of criteria with accompanying guidance and resources.
Delivered by our network of experienced practitioners and school improvement advisers, we offer consultancy, CPD, coaching and mentoring to support your school's work with the NACE Challenge Development Programme.
The NACE Challenge Award is a school accreditation providing external validation of school-wide high-quality provision for more able learners within a context of challenge for all, with support for ongoing school improvement.
The map to the right shows the locations of schools accredited with the NACE Challenge Award, which is based on the Challenge Framework and granted in recognition of school-wide high-quality provision for more able learners within a context
of challenge for all.
The NACE Challenge Award has been awarded to more than 450 schools across England, Wales and internationally. These schools span all phases and contexts. To maintain the Award, schools must be re-accredited every three years.
The map highlights schools accredited with the NACE Challenge Award for the first time (blue) and schools accredited on two or more occasions (orange). Following the launch of our Challenge Ambassador School programme in September 2022,
you will also be able to see the locations of our prestigious Challenge Ambassador Schools.
The NACE Challenge Development Programme is exclusively available to NACE member schools.
Our members also benefit from access to regularly updated resources, guidance, CPD, networking, and opportunities to participate in school-to-school
collaboration and research initiatives.