Professional development

• Teaching Leaders

Teaching Leaders

Teaching Leaders is designed to raise levels of pupil achievement in challenging schools through outstanding middle leadership. The programme develops highly motivated, inspirational middle leaders: heads of department, heads of year and other whole-school roles.

Teaching Leaders has been developed by the National College in partnership with three of the UK's most forward-thinking educational organisations: ARK (Absolute Return for Kids), Teach First and Future Leaders. The programme benefits schools by increasing the quality of teaching in areas of need, retaining and developing the best staff and in transforming whole departments and year groups sustainably.

Teaching Leaders is currently available in challenging secondary schools in the South, the North and the Midlands.

Who can apply?

You must have a middle leadership post at an eligible school confirmed for 2012-13; this includes having a responsibility for the performance of at least two staff. During the application process, you will be assessed against a rigorous competency framework and need to be able to show evidence of commitment to raising achievement in challenging schools.

What's involved?

Teaching Leaders gives you genuinely practical training you can take back and apply to your role. The programme will support you to focus on leading strategically and give you a structure within which to plan, improve and measure progress.

Formal training consists of a series of day workshops and evening seminars – in total two days of training per term, spread across six terms, covering a range of skills relating to leadership and management. Topics covered in these sessions are then revisited in your coaching visits, where the programme is personalised to each individual's needs. You receive support from a team of coaches, education and leadership experts, and the peer network.

The main focus of the programme is an improvement initiative, in which you complete a project to demonstrate the impact you can have on a group of underachieving pupils in your area of responsibility.

There is also the opportunity to participate in unique experiences such as a summer residential, best practice visits, and the opportunity to gain a Masters from the programme through Warwick University.

Duration

Two years, in role. Virtually all training takes place outside school hours.

Costs

Costs are divided between the National College, ARK, and your school. Your school can become a partner school, with all the associated benefits, from as little as £2,000 per year.

If your school is not able to provide the funds, you should contact the Teaching Leaders team on 0203 116 0828 to discuss options.

Find out more

• Visit the Teaching Leaders site
• Read about past participants' experience of the programme
• Download our fact sheet.
• Contact: enquiries@teachingleaders.org.uk

Apply

The 2012 application round is now open. We encourage you to apply early as places are limited.

If you have any enquiries, please contact the Teaching Leaders team at enquiries@teachingleaders.org.uk.