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Research Associate Programme - research themes

It is important that practitioner research funded by the College supports our core leadership remit and aims as outlined in the Corporate Plan 2009/10. Prospective studies must focus on an aspect of leadership connected with one or more of the College’s four key goals:

  • Inspiring new leaders: identifying, inspiring and developing future leaders to sustain the supply of talent.
  • Providing great leadership development: giving all leaders the expertise they need to become great leaders by providing guidance and support tailored to individual needs, access to knowledge and resources, and unrivalled leadership development and networking opportunities.
  • Empowering successful leaders: harnessing the expertise of the best leaders to drive improvement beyond their own schools and organisations.
  • Shaping future leadership: supporting leaders to adapt the way they work to meet changing demands, influencing policy and advising government.

Applicants are free to identify their own potential research projects, with scope for the programme manager and other College staff to make recommendations both prior to the award of the associateship and during the project. As part of the application process, applicants are asked how their proposed research project relates to the aims and current activities of the College. This will be used as part of the selection criteria.

If you are unclear whether or not your intended project is appropriate for a research associateship, before submitting an application please contact the programme manager at researchassociates@nationalcollege.org.uk to arrange an informal discussion.

The College will, from time to time, approach school leaders directly to invite them to help us with our work as part of a themed research project. This assistance might, for instance, be  involvement in gathering case study data or interrogation of data and follow-up of issues arising from a major research project. Details of these opportunities are advertised on the website as they occur.

11-19 secondary curriculum project

The College undertook a research project to explore the early lessons from schools involved in the delivery of the 11-19 new secondary curriculum.

The project looked at the following questions:

  • What is good practice in whole school leadership of the 11-19 curriculum change programme?
  • How have barriers to reform and change been overcome?
  • How are schools leading the progression from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4 within the context of the 11-19 programme and the 14-19 reforms?
  • How are secondary school leaders relating their new Key Stage 3 provision to the proposed primary reforms?

The report called New secondary curriculum: vision into practice - leadership case studies is now available