Research Associates Programme

Overview

NCSL’s Research Associate Programme offers an opportunity for senior school leaders and leaders of children’s centres to engage in enquiry and undertake research that will impact on practice. Through this, they will embark on an experience that provides both personal and professional development.

Eligibilty

The Research Associate Programme is primarily aimed at headteachers, deputy and assistant headteachers and leaders of children centres, but, exceptionally, those in other senior leadership roles may be considered.

The current agenda for the College is based around four key challenges concordant with the College’s Corporate Plan 2005-08. Prospective studies must focus on an aspect of leadership, connected with one or more of these areas:

• Every Child Matters – linking the standards agenda and the requirements of the Children Act 2004 into a single coherent, manageable approach for school leaders
• system leadership – developing capacity within the school and leadership beyond the school to promote improvement and reduce variation in achievement
• succession planning – identifying and growing tomorrow’s school leaders
• leading a school in the 21st century – dealing with issues of relentlessness, complexity and accountability

Availability

Research associateships normally begin in Spring and Autumn. There are normally ten places available per cohort but numbers do vary.