Models of Leadership

The Innovation Challenge

Schools have changed fundamentally since the introducion of local management in the 1980's. School leaders and governing bodies have a huge range of responsibilities and decisions to make.

School leaders are being asked to work strategically and, very often, collaboratively, to respond to a wide range of local priorities and national intiatives. As a result many schools are already actively developing a range of alternative models of leadership, in terms of both structures and the enabling conditions that underpin them, in order to benefit students, staff and the wider community.

Our Approach

The Innovation Unit was commissioned to support the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services (National College) identify, help evaluate and spread effective practice to ensure National College is the place where school leaders, multiagency leaders, Local Authorities and governors go to find information and support if they are exploring new Models of Leadership.

Schools and localities across the country were encouraged to develop an awareness of models of leadership to address their challenges and priorities, as well as giving them the support to explore these appropriately.

A series of visits and workshops took place across the country to provide advice and support to Headteachers, school leaders and governors on the different Models of Leadership and what might be most appropriate for them.

Based on the various models being explored and implemented around the country, a Guide to Models of Leadership was developed, along with over 30 vignettes summarising what the different schools were doing.

Outcomes

• Identification of over 250 examples of Models of Leadership across the country
• 40 Models of Leadership vignettes available online
• Introduction to Models of Leadership Guide
• Over 1,000 people actively engaged with Models of Leadership, as well as a wider community of interest.

Please click here to visit National College's Models of Leadership page, which contains tools and resources you may find of use.

Project contacts

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