Leading from the Middle

Overview

Leading from the Middle (LftM) is a 10-month professional development programme for middle leaders. Groups of between two and four middle leaders from primary, secondary and special schools are supported by one leadership coach. Applications are also welcomed from single schools or from groups of schools working together as a collaborative group. This programme is continually renewed to ensure it meets the needs of today’s middle leaders.

The programme supports the leadership development of middle leaders in five key areas:

1. Leadership of innovation and change
2. Knowledge and understanding of their role in leading teaching and learning
3. Enhancing self-confidence and skills as team leaders
4. Building team capacity through the efficient use of staff and resources
5. Active engagement in self-directed change in a blended learning environment

Leadership coaches are school-based and play a key role in developing middle leader colleagues by supporting and challenging them throughout the programme. The programme also provides leadership coaches with a valuable opportunity for their own professional development and training.

Eligibility

LftM is available to a wide range of middle leaders in subject-based and pastoral roles and with different levels of experience. The online materials and experience of tutors reflect this variation. Experience has shown that participants with between two and six years’ experience in a middle-leader role gain maximum benefit from participating in LftM.

Examples of eligible middle leader roles include:

• subject/curriculum leader
• head of department
• pastoral leaders, eg head of year or head of house
• SENCOs
• gifted and talented co-ordinators
• advanced skills teachers
• assessment co-ordinators
• career co-ordinators

Leadership coaches

Experience shows that the leadership coach role has been most successfully undertaken by an experienced leader within the school. A leadership coach should be an individual with a number of the following attributes:

• commitment to time and energy required to fulfill the role of the leadership coach
• empathy with middle leaders – understanding others’ emotions and taking an active interest in their concerns
• people of influence, skilled at setting new agendas, building cohesion and support for actions
• good communicators – building rapport through the use of effective communication skills
• confident self-awareness – knowing their own strengths and limitations
• sympathetic to the aims of online learning – willing to explore the possibilities of using online learning for their own development and to support effectively the learning of others
• personal commitment – dedicated to making a positive difference to the lives of others in the school
• known for their ethical code and integrity – creating a climate of trust and respect that supports deeper learning

Pre-sessional activities for leadership coaches:

• Leadership coaches – introduction (29kb, 1 page)
• Leadership coach – role and skill development (58kb, 7 pages)
• Coaching tasks model (563kb)
• Programme model (690kb)
• Partnership statement (73kb, 3 pages)

Collaborative groups

To apply as part of a collaborative group, you should have at least 18 middle leaders. The maximum group size is usually around 24 middle leaders. For information on working as part of a collaborative group, please see benefits to collaborative groups.

Availability

The next application round for LftM (cohort 12, April 2009 start) will open on Monday 1 December 2008 and close at noon on Friday 16 January 2009.

Contact us

If you have any queries, please email [email protected]. This inbox is checked regularly during office hours. We will respond to your email as soon as possible.