Winning teams – feedback from the seminars

Winning teams seminars for aspiring heads were held in London, Birmingham and Manchester in February 2009.

Delegates heard from serving headteachers from a variety of settings who have adopted different approaches to leadership to enable them to handle the job and deal with the range of responsibilities.

At the heart of each of these there is an emphasis on team leadership and team building. Modern headship now demands such a variety of skills and responsibilities that it can no longer be managed by an individual leader – however talented.

The key themes emerging from the seminars are outlined below, together with links to case studies and frequently asked questions.

Key themes from the seminars

The key themes that emerged from the events are summarised below.

• Context is king – The model of leadership that’s best for the school depends on its context. This includes the needs of the pupils and community, its circumstances, and its history.
• Find a school that fits you – The school you choose to apply for must be right for you. It must match your moral values if you are to succeed there.
• Don’t go it alone – Above and beyond sharing the workload, team leadership has immense benefits for improving teaching and learning, staff development, allowing headteachers a clearer focus on strategic matters, money saving and greater efficiency.
• Good teamwork – Teams only work if the values are shared and widely understood, and both headteachers and staff trust in each other’s leadership and competence.
• Finding a balance – A good work-life balance depends on team working; the job is too big otherwise.
• Step up, step down co-headship – Co-headship provides invaluable professional development for aspiring headteachers who are able to learn on the job from an experienced leader.
• Bringing governors on board – Pitching a new model to governors remains a challenge but they will be persuaded if they can see the benefits for the school – as opposed to the individuals.

Distributed leadership

Case studies from an academy in London and a secondary school in Sutton Coldfield

• Download distributed leadership case studies
  (24kb, 2 pages)

School business managers

Case studies from a primary school and a secondary school, each with its own school business manager; and from a primary school which contracts a finance manager 0.5 days per week

• Download school business managers case studies
  (28kb, 2 pages)

Models of leadership

Case studies from primary school co-headships and from a federation of two London primary schools

• Download models of leadership case studies
  (27kb, 2 pages)

Frequently asked questions

• Download frequently asked questions
  (23kb, 1 page)

Winning teams

Visit the Winning teams web page, for resources and ideas to help you develop a winning team.

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