Redes de colaboración en educación. Evidencias recogidas en escuelas de Southampton

This paper seeks to ascertain how a network of schools aimed at enhancing the teaching-learning process in the city of Southampton (south England) operates. A case study is presented which includes interviews with leadership teams and teachers from the five schools participating along with a review of the institutional documents shared by the alliance in question. The research team was able to delve into: 1) the aspirations of the network; 2) the main areas of common interest; and 3) the type of structural organization underpinning the collaboration. The findings reveal that the main aspirations are sharing experiences and information, effective management of resources and school improvement. Other common issues of interest include leadership, inclusion and peer support. In terms of the structure of the network, there are interconnected groups that address a variety of aspects. The conclusions underline the need to open up so that more and more schools begin to network.