Leadership for narrowing the gap

The National College's Leadership for narrowing the gap initiative provides an opportunity for leaders to help narrow the gaps in attainment for all young people. These pages provide support and advice for those involved in the initiative in particular, and for all school leaders who are working to achieve this. Resources include research reports and summaries, case studies, activities and recommended reading.

How to use leadership for narrowing the gap resources
The resources cover the six key areas listed below. Find out more about the types of resources available.
Creating and agreeing a shared vision
Agreeing a shared vision that prioritises the most vulnerable learners is a crucial step in successfully narrowing the gap. This area covers agreeing and sharing vision and targeting vulnerable learners.
Working effectively with other schools and local communities
Working in partnership with others allows you to align priorities, planning and processes. This area covers involving parents and the community and working with other schools and agencies.
Creating a learning culture for adults and young people
A successful learning culture can be nurtured by encouraging reflection, improving student voice and focusing on staff professional development. This area covers extending student voice and participation and promoting reflection and enquiry.
Using data and intelligence in your leadership for narrowing the gap
How your project evidence and data can help to provide better outcomes for disadvantaged young people. This area covers using data to identify vulnerable learners and their needs and evaluating the impact of your project and sharing the findings.
Developing a workforce while leading a narrowing the gap project
Developing your staff can help you achieve your goals, make changes sustainable and contribute to overall school improvement. This area covers leadership learning and staff development and leading a narrowing the gap project.
Focusing the organisation to address gaps in student outcomes
How you can support young people to achieve all five Every Child Matters (ECM) outcomes. This area covers improving ECM outcomes, including student well-being and narrowing gaps through teaching and learning and other interventions.

Publications

Leadership that promotes the achievement of students with special educational needs and disabilities: full report
This report presents the findings from the study into the nature and forms of school leadership that promote the achievement of students with special educational needs and disabilities
Leadership that promotes the achievement of students with special educational needs and disabilities: support pack
This support pack is designed to promote reflection and discussion about how the school understands the issue of special educational needs and disabilities
System leadership: does school-to-school-support close the gap?
Research into the impact of national leaders of education and national support schools on closing gaps in attainment
Promoting the conditions for positive behaviour, to help every child succeed
Study providing a series of commentaries on existing research literature, guidance documents and practitioner-based knowledge regarding pupil behaviour
Managing pupil mobility to maximise learning - full report
This research report was carried out to learn about good practice in managing pupil mobility successfully and to inform the practice of others

More related publications

Interactive resources

Raising the attainment of disadvantaged pupils online seminar
Recording of the online seminar from 29 September 2011
The Hello campaign
Hello, the 2011 national year of communication, is a campaign to increase understanding of how important it is for children and young people to develop good communication skills. This website holds a wealth of free resources for all leaders working with children