Transforming Leadership

DHT Cluster Leadership Development facilitated by PEP HTs

Cluster / LLN Deputy Headteachers’ & Assistant Heads’ Leadership Development Programme

The Cluster / LLN DHT Leadership Development Programme is designed to meet the needs of Deputies, or those senior leaders who fulfil that role, to enhance their effectiveness and share good practice.

It is important that the programme focuses on developing their strategic leadership behaviours, skills and understanding; not simply training about management skills. At the same time deputies have opportunities to keep abreast of national and local priorities or initiatives, consider the strategic implications and the likely impact on schools and leadership practice.

The sessions provide great opportunities to network, encourage local network leadership projects, and promote involvement in LA or NCSL leadership development / succession planning programmes – e.g. Aspiring Senior Leaders and Aspiring HTs programmes (both commencing in Oct 08); Leading from the Middle, Leadership Pathways and NPQH.

ASK Team Business Plan 2008 – 09

5.6.2 To implement a sustainable and coordinated leadership development programme:

Primary Deputy Headteachers - Cluster Deputy Headteacher Leadership Development: 

• To oversee the provision of a year’s LLN programme of leadership development (facilitated by PEP HTs) for DHTs, Assistant Heads and Senior Teachers fulfilling the role of deputy head (strong supportive DHT leadership networks established and sustained)
• To establish a needs-led, well balanced leadership & management development programme that is informed by local and national priorities (improve the effectiveness and impact of DHT leadership on school standards by promoting understanding of strategic leadership and management skills as well as behaviours)

Deliverable Outcomes Planned for 2008 - 09

• Clusters, schools, settings and individuals have built their own leadership development around a wide range of opportunities through national and Kent programmes

Suggested topics for inclusion in the 2008 - 09 programmes

National priorities or developments:

• New Ofsted Framework arrangements from Sept 08, including themed inspections and surveys
• The new NPQH programme and other succession planning initiatives
• Working effectively with Governors and New Models of School Governance
• Outworking of the Children’s Plan – high ambitions for improving pupils’ well being, achievement, readiness for work, health, eradication of poverty by 2010 and leading for social justice:
  • ECM outcomes and Extended School Provision integral to raising standards and closing the achievement gap
  • Personalised Learning and Assessment for Learning
  • Community Leadership and Community Cohesion  
• TDA School Improvement Planning Framework
• Strategic Financial Management; FMSiS requirements
• The National Strategies – the Improving Schools Programme (ISP); core elements of school-wide strategies, systems and procedures to raise standards, accelerate / sustain progress, build leadership capacity and support robust school self evaluation.

LA priorities or developments:

• Children’s Services Partnership Trusts (from Sept 08) – improving inter-agency working so as to enhance children’s well being, safety, health and educational achievement.
• Community Leadership and Community Cohesion
• ECM & Extended School Provision – the link with raising standards
• LA’s school improvement programme and expectations of school leadership, including governance to support them with raising standards in:
  • Good schools to become outstanding
  • Schools judged merely satisfactory
  • Vulnerable schools
  • Schools in category – notice to improve or special measures
• ICT mark accreditation; Learning Platforms
• Training in Mentor-Coaching skills

Schools sharing exemplars of good practice:

• Developing a Parents’ Council or Forum
• Addressing ECM priorities
  • ‘economic well-being in the primary school’
  • Enjoyment and Achievement
• Examples of Extended School Provision from pilot schools
• Effective School Self Evaluation e.g.
  • Getting “outstanding” in all aspects of school leadership and management
  • Data Analysis – RAISE on-line
• Strategic School Improvement Planning
• Cross curriculum design and skills based provision ensuring continuity and progression - foundation subjects e.g. Geography / Art / Creative curriculum
• Mediation 
• Provision Mapping
• Leading spiritual and moral development in primary schools
• Leadership and management of Primary Foreign Languages at KS2

Primary Deputy Headteachers - LLN / Cluster Deputy Headteacher Leadership Development (2007 - 08)

• Provided a year’s Cluster / LLN programme of leadership development (facilitated by PEP HTs) for DHTs, Assistant Heads and Senior Teachers fulfilling the role of deputy head.
• Established a needs-led, well balanced leadership & management development programme that was informed by local and national priorities.
• Enabled strong supportive DHT leadership networks to be established and sustained.
• Improved the effectiveness and impact of DHT leadership on school standards by promoting understanding of strategic leadership and management skills as well as behaviours.

The programme was hugely appreciated by DHTs / Assistant Heads and very successful in meeting their leadership development needs at a local level.

Leadership Advisers have also supported Cluster Deputy Headteacher meetings by leading discussions in the following areas:

• Managing change – leading people
• Mentor Coaching
• Aspiring to Headship
• Developing Leadership styles
• Leadership Strategic Planning

Evaluations of the DHT leadership development sessions (2007 – 08) ranged from outstanding to good in all cases.

Case Studies:

• Developing Curriculum Teams at St Augustines
• Improving Teaching and Learning through self-evaluation in Shepway Rural.

Developing Subject Leaders through coaching and mentoring,supporting staff meetings and providing needs school based and partnership support.

Publications

• Developing the Role of Subject Leaders