The publications below highlight the sort of research and projects being undertaken in the area of curriculum innovation and look at how some school leaders are creating more flexible and effective ways of leading the curriculum.
A Better way? (2007) 
(451kb, 6 pages)
This study sets out to explore curriculum development in five contrasting secondary schools in order to examine the leadership issues arising from radical change at Key Stage 3.
A better way – full report (503kb, 29 pages)
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Uncharted territory (120kb, 8 pages)
A think piece reflecting a conversation between Andrew Bloodworth, Economic Minerals Programme Manager, British Geological Survey, and Chris Williams, Principal, King Edward VII Technology College and Training School, Melton Mowbray.
How far can you go? (120kb, 9 pages)
A think piece reflecting a conversation between Sara Parkin OBE, Founder Director, Forum for the Future, and Jackie Fisher, Headteacher, Market Harborough Church of England Primary School.
For crying out loud (144kb, 8 pages)
A think piece reflecting a conversation between Peter Roberts, Managing Director, Collis Engineering, and Paul Aspinall, Headteacher, Leamington Primary and Nursery School, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.
Tradable commodities (112kb, 8 pages)
A think piece reflecting a conversation between David Arkless, Senior Vice President, Manpower Inc, and Goran Hultin, Caden Consulting with Susan Tuck, Headteacher, St. John’s Primary School, Lincoln.
Small voices (112kb, 8 pages)
A think piece reflecting a conversation between David Morgan, Director of Operations Services 3663, and David Slee, Headteacher, Eskdale Junior School, Chilwell, Nottinghamshire.
Real-life education (108kb, 8 pages)
A think piece reflecting a conversation between Rosalyn Rahme, Chief Executive, Gold Recruitment, and Andrew Pearson, Headteacher, Bramcote Hills Primary School, Nottingham.
Dwelling on the future (144kb, 8 pages)
A think piece reflecting a conversation between Lindsey William, Chief Executive and Mark Blighton, Financial Director, Amber Valley Housing and Gordon McBurnie, Headteacher, Heath Fields Primary School, Derbyshire.
Joker in the pack (140kb, 8 pages)
A think piece reflecting a conversation between Theo Wright, Head of Technology Research, British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) and Jason Brook, Headteacher William Parker School, Daventry, Northamptonshire.
Building on the OECD scenarios for the future of schooling and FutureSight, this major NCSL initiative to support futures thinking in schools involved members of the Leadership Network from the East Midlands region working in partnership with EMLC. The aims of the initiative are to stimulate debate; give local leaders a voice in shaping education for the future; and provide materials and processes to help schools think about and plan for the challenges of the future. A key outcome of the work has been the generation of a series of think pieces designed to support the development of futures thinking. The first series has been developed by headteachers in dialogue with senior business leaders. In the future, it is intended to undertake similar work with moral, political, community and cultural leaders.
Know where you are going (2004) (67kb, 4 pages)
John Grove
How five headteachers led innovations that go beyond the National Curriculum and national strategies to enhance children’s learning.
Know where you are going – full report (258kb, 24 pages)
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Leading curriculum innovation: learning from research (210kb, 8 pages)
A summary of the outcomes of research undertaken to examine the practice of school leaders. It outlines five components of the effective leadership of curriculum innovation.
Leading curriculum innovation in practice ( 188kb, 8 pages)
A series of snapshots that illustrate the leadership and development of curriculum innovation in practice, together with summary analyses designed to prompt you to consider next steps to action in your context.
Leading curriculum innovation in perspective (147kb, 4 pages)
A selection of short think pieces that illuminate thinking on the leadership and development of curriculum innovation and invite you to pause for thought on the issues raised.
Leading curriculum innovation in discussion (112kb, 6 pages)
Key ideas about leading curriculum innovation with examples drawn directly from practice within a diamond 9 discussion tool that is designed to challenge your thinking and promote dialogue and debate with others.
The resources in this publication provide a toolkit of four booklets designed to enable you to explore emerging ideas about leading curriculum innovation in the 21st century. These include a summary of research findings, a collection of short think pieces, snapshots of practice and a discussion tool. Printed copies available. There is also a collection of 20 case studies that provides practical examples of leading curriculum innovation in schools and colleges.
Made in China (2007) (1.5mb, 28 pages)
NCSL’s Leadership Network learning internationally
In partnership with the British Council, NCSL offers a unique opportunity for headteachers to gain an international perspective on their work through the International Placements for Headteachers (IPH) programme. In 2006, a group of nine headteachers from NCSL’s Leadership Network undertook an IPH study visit to Shanghai and Heifei, capital of the Anhui province in China.
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Personalised learning in action: Personalising the curriculum at 14-19 (500kb, 6 pages)
Liz Cresswell, Paul Morrissey, Graham Soles
Common themes and unique features: lessons learned from research in four contrasting secondary schools in the north of England.
Personalising the curriculum at 14-19 – full report (388kb, 30 pages)
Personalised learning in action – Shape shifters (495kb, 6 pages)
Exploring an alternative approach to learning through the curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4.
Shape-shifters – full report (394kb, 26 pages)
School leadership in England: contemporary challenges, innovative responses and future trends (142kb, 21 pages)
This is an abbreviated version of the recent review of school leadership in England for the OECD. The report sets out the broad forces impacting on school leaders over the past twenty years, the specific challenges these created and the ways in which school leaders and the education system more generally have responded.
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