Developing Leadership Skills
The development of leadership and building capacity in the school centres around high expectations and a clear vision for all stakeholders, identifying leaders at the earliest stage in their journey. These include classroom practitioners, support staff, curriculum specific and whole-school initiative leaders and senior management.
Succession planning identifies leaders at all levels and prepares them for future promotions and vacancies within the system. Once identified, staff are nurtured and the appropriate leadership pathways form part of their development along with the opportunity to learn from senior experienced leaders.
Creating the Conditions
The headteacher, along with the deputy headteacher, has established a culture where professional learning is valued. Within this system, autonomy, innovation, and risk taking are encouraged at all levels. Leaders encourage staff to plan, evaluate and review their areas of expertise and leadership. Senior leaders act as role models and provide support to staff via a system of coaching and mentoring. In this way, new leaders feel valued and they very quickly gain confidence in their leadership capacity, creating a desire to succeed.
Culture of professional learning
The performance management structure facilitates professional learning and the early identification of potential leaders.
A blended approach to professional learning includes the development of research informed practice, which is closely linked to pedagogy and school improvement priorities. Teachers conduct their own research enquiries, implement strategies and share their findings. Continual opportunities for professional dialogue encourage collaboration and a shared understanding of good practice. This in turn promotes a supportive culture for innovation. Support staff follow very similar processes to teachers and contribute effectively to staff training in their areas of expertise.
Collaboration with other institutions, such as higher education and initial teacher education providers, has a direct impact on the quality of professional learning and the development of leadership skills in the school. The school identifies leadership pathways for individual staff who then follow a carefully designed programme to develop and prepare them for future leadership.
