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Interested in Future Leaders?

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Visit the Future Leaders website for more details about the programme and information on how to apply.

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  • NPQH
    For those who are ready to become a headteacher with the next 12–18 months

Not quite ready for headship?

Future Leaders

teacher in gym with students in background

Every child has potential. Could you make a lasting difference to the lives of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds by becoming an outstanding leader for a challenging secondary school?

We’re looking for talented individuals with the potential to fast track to senior leadership in challenging secondary schools on this intensive, three-year programme.

Key facts

  • Future Leaders is currently available in London, the Midlands, the North West, the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber and the South Coast.
  • We are looking to recruit, train and support up to 75 outstanding individuals to join the programme starting in summer 2012.
  • If selected, we believe that you have the potential to be a senior leader within 12 months, begin the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) within 3 years and be a headteacher after 4 years.
  • Most participants leave their current teaching role and school to join the programme, but you will have the option to stay in your current school.
  • You will spend your first year in a residency placement in a school and will be paid a salary by the school based on your current salary (up to a maximum of £50,000).
  • At the end of your first year you will be applying for your first permanent senior leadership role.

Who can apply?

If you wish to join the Future Leaders programme, you should have the desire to lead a challenging secondary school. You may currently be a teacher in a secondary school, or you may be a former teacher who is now working in another area of education or outside of education altogether. Either way, you’ll be passionate about improving the life chances of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

You’ll also need to meet a range of criteria in order to be accepted onto the programme, including:

  • holding qualified teacher status (QTS)
  • being able to demonstrate two years of recent management experience

Full details of the criteria and the competencies we are looking for are available on the Future Leaders website.

What's involved?

You will leave your current teaching role to undergo a programme of intensive school-based and off-site development. During the first year you will enter into a residency in a secondary school under the apprenticeship of a successful urban headteacher and an in-school professional mentor. You will also be supported by your personal leadership development adviser who will support, coach and challenge you throughout your time on the programme. After your residency you will spend between one and three years in a senior leadership role to build the skills and experience you will need to successfully apply for NPQH and progress to your first headship.

Duration

The length of the programme will depend on your specific development needs. The aim is that you will develop the skills and experience to become a senior leader – and be ready to apply for NPQH – in no more than three years.

Cost

There is no cost to the programme, and you will be paid at your current salary for your first year of school residency. In return, after you have completed your residency year you are asked to contribute to the programme via consultancy work allocated to you by the Future Leaders programme.

Find out more

Apply

The application round is currently open and will close at midnight on 6 March 2012.

Places are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis. We respect and value diversity. We welcome applications from all individuals who meet the criteria, and remain keen to encourage individuals who are currently under-represented in school leadership (for example black, asian and minority ethnic leaders).

If you wish to appeal a decision made on your application to Future Leaders, please read our appeals process and complete the appeals form. Please note that appeals will only be accepted at stage one.