In the spotlight
Catch up with past In the spotlight articles.
Developing your career
If you're applying for a new job or looking for a new challenge, we have lots of practical resources to help you along the way.
- Our career planning tool will help you think about your future roles.
- Good Practice resource: Applying for a new position
- Preparing and applying for headship
Maintaining motivation
We have some practical resources to help you deal with those difficult conversations, and maintain morale and motivation.
- ldr article: The morale imperative
- Dealing with difficult people: developing an effective team
- Top tips for courageous conversations
New to headship
If you're a new headteacher, take a look at some of our resources and discussions to help you in your role.
- Experiences of new headteachers in cities
- Top tips for new heads: how do you work effectively with your governors? Join the discussion
- Good Practice video: Top tips for developing your leadership style
Raising attainment
Find out about the pupil premium and how to support the achievement of disadvantaged pupils.
- ldr article: The pupil premium and you
- Review the online seminar about raising the attainment of disadvantaged pupils
- Join the discussion: How do you raise the attainment of disadvanted pupils?
School-to-school support
Find out how collaboration can help you improve the leadership of your school.
- Leading a self-improving school system
- Case studies about collaboration between schools
- Insights into system leadership
Parental engagement
Why is connecting with parents important? Read our resources on parental engagement.
- Online seminar: Getting parents involved.
- ldr article: Meet the parents.
- Working with parents: resources in our leadership library.
Converting to an academy
What's it like to convert to an academy? Read three new academy heads' diaries in ldr, and take a look at our new research into academy leadership.
- Research into the leadership of sponsored and converting academies.
- ldr: New challenges for the new academies?
- Converting to an academy: online seminar recording and slides.
Resources update
Get the latest on school budgets: Join some interesting discussions on making the most of your school budget and review our recent online seminar.
- Ask the experts: making the most of your school budget.
- Leading your school with reduced resources: online seminar recording and slides.
- Events: Creative approaches to managing a reduced budget.
Career planning
Thinking about your career? Use our resources and reading for your professional development and career management.
- Career management: new content in our leadership library from Good Practice for Leaders.
- ldr article on continuing professional development: getting it right.
- Career moves: are you ready for school leadership?
Reduced resources
We can help you plan your way through a time of resource and budget cuts, with creative approaches and practical guidance.
- ldr: Time to get creative about budgets and resources.
- Securing the best for less: making resources go further.
- SBM arena: join discussions with other school business managers in our online network.
New year, new you
If you're thinking about taking the next step in your career, we have some resources to help you on your way.
- Our career planning tool will help you think about your future roles.
- Preparing and applying for headship: practical advice in our leadership library.
- Career moves: are you ready for school leadership?
- Get advice and share your career plans in our online network.
School-to-school support
Get the most out of collaborating with leaders from other schools. Read our research and practical guides on school-to-school support.
- Creating a self-improving school system: what the future might look like.
- For practical information, take a look at A National College guide to partnerships and collaborations.
- Our full guide to school-to-school support in the leadership library.
- System leadership through extended roles
New to headship
If you're new to headship, you will be facing many new challenges. We can support you with resources and discussions to help you in this stimulating and fulfilling role.
- New to headship? What's the best advice? Dip in to our online network to find out.
- Are you getting support from a professional partner through Head Start?
- Firefighting or formulating: how new headteachers can create further improvement in their schools.
Coaching and mentoring
Coaching and mentoring can help school leaders effectively tackle the issues facing schools today. Read more about why we think coaching and mentoring is important.
- Leadership library: coaching and mentoring.
- How will you stay fresh and develop this year? Join the discussion.
- How can coaching improve teaching and learning? A practical guide.
- Creating a culture of coaching: upskilling the school workforce in times of change
Sustainable schools
Leading and developing a sustainable school can have a positive influence on pupils' learning and lifestyle. We have a wealth of resources to help get your school started.
- ldr article: How to become a sustainable school.
- Jonathon Porritt on Sustainable schools for a sustainable world - listen to our 15 minute seminar summary.
- Our leadership library contains more articles, case studies, videos and publications about leading and developing sustainable schools.
Efficiencies and school business managers
Making efficiencies in school budgets is always a challenge, and will be even more so in the future. However, school business managers are already delivering significant savings.
- Find out more about the role of the school business manager and how it could help your school.
- Collaborate and thrive? Read the ldr article and case study.
- Join the discussions taking place in the SBM arena in our online network.
Academies
The Department for Education has announced that more schools can apply for academy status to give them more freedom to innovate and raise standards.
- Read the latest information about academies education on the Department's website.
- Share your views on this new opportunity for schools in our online discussion, Leading an academy.
- We have a range of resources and professional development opportunities for leading an academy.
Helping schools use resources well
The National College is working with school leaders and national partners to promote the effective and efficient use of resources. Read more about how we are doing this:
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