About us

• Initiatives
  • Careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG)
  • Chairs of governors
  • Leadership for Closing the Gap 2010-11
  • Leadership Strategy
• Local Leaders of Education Programme
• National Challenge
• National Leaders of Education and National Support Schools Programme
• National teaching schools
• Parental engagement
• Primary leadership
• Research Associate Programme
• School business management activity
• Specialist leaders of education
• Succession planning
• Previous initiatives

Leadership Strategy

The Leadership Strategy (previously part of the City Challenge programme) was a project designed to raise attainment for young people in London, Greater Manchester and the Black Country.

Evaluation and impact

The project has now come to an end. The National College commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) to undertake an evaluation of the Leadership Strategies and the final reports from their study are available here.

Leadership Strategy evaluations

• Evaluation of City Challenge Leadership Strategies: overview report
• Evaluation of City Challenge Leadership Strategies: Black Country area report
• Evaluation of City Challenge Leadership Strategies: Greater Manchester area report
• Evaluation of City Challenge Leadership Strategies: London area report

The Leadership Strategy has achieved considerable success. For example, analysis of exam results in 2010 showed that, in all three strategy areas, school improvement increased at a faster rate than nationally. This success has been recognised by the Department for Education, Ofsted and other bodies. An Ofsted report on the London Challenge was published in December 2010.

Lessons learned from the project have helped to shape a number of other strategies, programmes and initiatives, including:

• National Leaders of Education and National Support Schools
• Local Leaders of Education Programme
• Specialist leaders of education
• National teaching schools
• Outstanding Facilitator Programme

Background

The London Leadership Strategy ran from 2003-11. The Greater Manchester and Black Country strategies ran from 2008-11.

Through school support and bespoke development for school leaders, the project aimed to improve pupil outcomes across each region by:

• developing a strong culture of learning in all schools, leading to a sharp drop in underperforming schools
• narrowing the attainment gap between children from advantaged and disadvantaged backgrounds
• increasing the number of outstanding schools

The College had overall responsibility for the strategy, which supported partnership working with local authorities, school leaders and other key stakeholders. The project included:

• the deployment of local and national leaders of education to support improvement in challenging and vulnerable schools
• tailored support and continuous professional development for headteachers and other school leaders
• the piloting of the teaching schools concept, together with the delivery of teaching and learning programmes to support teachers committed to improving their practice
• networking opportunities for headteachers to share knowledge and best practice

Leadership Strategy resources

• Greater Manchester Leadership Strategy 2010-11 (year 3)
• Greater Manchester Leadership Strategy 2009-10 (year 2)
• Greater Manchester Leadership Strategy 2008-09 (year 1)

Contact us

If you would like more information about the Leadership Strategy, email enquiries@nationalcollege.org.uk.