SWOT analysis for schools and education
SWOT analysis for teachers, schools and education
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threads in an educational environment.
A SWOT analysis is a tool that can provide prompts to the governors, management teachers and staff involved in the analysis of what is effective and less effective in the schools systems and procedures, in preparation for a plan of some form ( that could be an audit, assessments, quality checks etc.). In fact a SWOT can be used for any planning or analysis activity which could impact future finance, planning and management decisions. It can enable you (the governors and management) to carry out a more comprehensive analysis.
Definitions
- Strengths – Factors that are likely to have a positive effect on (or be an enabler to) achieving the school’s objectives
- Weaknesses – Factors that are likely to have a negative effect on (or be a barrier to) achieving the school’s objectives
- Opportunities – External Factors that are likely to have a positive effect on achieving or exceeding the school’s objectives, or goals not previously considered
- Threats – External Factors and conditions that are likely to have a negative effect on achieving the school’s objectives, or making the the objective redundant or un-achievable.
Before starting any planning or analysis process you need to have a clear and SMART goal or objective. What is it that you need to achieve or solve? Ensure that all key stakeholders (relevant to the issue being explored) buy into this objective or goal.
Then undertake a PESTLE analysis (or PESTLE in Schools), this will provide you with the external factors (OT).
Use the PRIMO-F model to ensure all internal factors are considered
Conducting a SWOT analysis in a school
One of the most effective ways to conduct a SWOT analysis is not in isolation, but with a team effort. When the goal is shared, then a brainstorming session can be run.
Ensure than when running such a session it is facilitated by a person not involved with the content – this is best with an independent person. If budgets do not allow this – then talk to another establishments head, and arrange a contra deal.
Do this activity in a number of phases:
1) Share the goal
2) Data collection (no filtering or comments – record verbatim) consider all areas of PRIMO-F
3) Take a break of at least 1 hr
4) Filter, sort and analyse into the 4 areas – SWOT – be critical and SMART avoid ambiguous statements or ideas at this stage
5) Prioritise the elements
Have a second session where the planning phase takes this data and puts it into a realistic plan.
IMPORTANT TIP,do not hide or underestimate threats or weaknesses – if you ignore them or underplay them now they will come back to haunt you at some stage – probably when they can do most damage!
The goal of any session like this is not necessarily to neutralise any weakness or threat – that is impossible – but to have it on your radar – and where possible take avoiding action. To some extent it is all about risk.
What sort of tasks and issues can this be used for?
At its most complex and comprehensive, it can be used for business planning, however it is also of value to solving localised issues and challenges.
An Example
We will use an example of a teacher working within a first school who want to improve the relationships with parents of his pupils.
TASK
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The school identified the following objective:
- To improve parent-partnership by encouraging parents to visit the school and become active members of the community.
- Outcome – to have more than 50% of parents spending one day in class per term
Currently, the school holds an open day once each year. It uses this as a way to encourage parents to visit the school and engage with school staff. The following is the initial SWOT Analysis.
Strengths
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Weaknesses
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Opportunities
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Threats
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The next step is to develop a plan with interested stakeholders
SWOT Analysis templates for schools & education
SWOT Analysis Template/ Worksheet – use these templates to start your SWOT process
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SWOT Analysis on ____________________ (organisation name or product/ service/ project) School/ establishment/ organisation Background/ situation ____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ (usual business partners, relationships, channels to market, assumptions etc…) Date PESTLE completed ____________________ Date of SWOT Analysis ____________________ ____________________v |
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INTERNAL |
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Under each of the PRIMO-F factors list the relevant strengths and weaknesses. List the Opportunities and threats from your PESTLE analysis below. Then considering the combination of these factors generate some options or alternative strategies for action. |
Strengths (PRIMO-F)
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Weaknesses (PRIMO-F)
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E |
Opportunities
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SO Alternatives / Strategies
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WO Alternatives / Strategies
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Threats
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ST Alternatives / Strategies
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WT Alternatives / Strategies
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Try our business SWOT analysis tool for free NOW – Or return to our main SWOT analysis page
SWOT Analysis Template / Worksheet 2
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SWOT Analysis on ____________________ (School/ establishment organisation name or product/ service/ project) Background/ situation________________________________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________________________________________
(usual operational partners, relationships, channels to market, assumptions etc…) Date PESTLE completed ____________________ Date of SWOT Analysis ____________________v |
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INTERNAL |
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Under each of the PRIMO-F factors list the relevant strengths and weaknesses. List the Opportunities and threats from your PESTLE analysis below. Then considering the combination of these factors generate some options or alternative strategies for action. |
Strengths
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Weaknesses |
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E |
Opportunities
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SO Alternatives / Strategies |
WO Alternatives / Strategies |
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Threats
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ST Alternatives / Strategies |
WT Alternatives / Strategies |
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Try our business SWOT analysis tool for free NOW - Or return to our main SWOT analysis page
SWOT Analysis Template / Worksheet 3
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SWOT analysis – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and threats
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| Company/ Department name | |||
| Internal Factors | |||
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Our Strengths
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Ways to exploit | Our Weaknesses
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Ways to reduce |
| External factors | |||
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Our Opportunities
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Ways to exploit | Our Threats
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Ways to reduce |
Try our business SWOT analysis tool for free NOW – Or return to our main SWOT analysis page
A SWOT analysis in a school, college or other educational establishment can be a simple and yet effective tool for ensuring that all appropriate factors are considered. In this environment it is particularly important to use the PRIMO-F template to ensure that all elements have been considered. Indeed ensure that under People – teachers, support staff, parents and children are considered along with third party people (police, local health etc that can form a part of your community.
Teachers, Tutors, PTA (Parent Teacher associations) management committees etc all have a valuable contribution to make
Under Resources, remember to include IT, and consumables that can be used as part of the process
RapidBI is an organizational effectiveness consultancy based in the UK but working internationally.
© RapidBI & Mike Morrison 2011 - this article/ page is free to copy and use on the condition that an active link back and reference is made to this site and page. Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.
Related posts that may be of interest to you:
- schools-education-and-the-PESTLE-analysis-tool
- SWOT analysis
- 5 common mistakes in SWOT analysis
- History of the SWOT analysis
- PESTLE Analysis for Schools or Education
- 5 common mistakes in doing a SWOT analysis
7 Responses to “SWOT analysis for schools and education”
Comment from topsy_top20k_en
Time January 2, 2010 at 12:02
New blog post on using SWOT in schools http://rapidbi.com/management/swot-analysis-for-schools-and-education/
Comment from Paula Jones MCT
Time January 2, 2010 at 12:02
RT @Rapidbi SWOT analysis for schools and education: A SWOT analysis is a tool that can provide prom..
Comment from Neil Ryder
Time January 2, 2010 at 12:12
New blog from friend SWOT analysis for schools and education I hope it is useful
Comment from Gary Gorman
Time January 2, 2010 at 14:20
RT@rapidbi SWOT analysis for schools and education: A SWOT analysis is a tool that can provide prompts to the gove…
Comment from PBP Group
Time January 2, 2010 at 20:07
SWOT analysis for schools and education » RapidBI-Mgt, Leadership …
Comment from nomad411
Time January 2, 2010 at 20:16
Great templates.. RT @Edubeat: SWOT analysis for schools and education » RapidBI-Mgt, Leadership …
Comment from Juan Carlos Martínez
Time January 14, 2012 at 22:08
SWOT analysis for schools and education http://t.co/0dcvgnvi
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