Developing our headteachers

The programme was designed to support and develop colleagues either new to Greenshaw Learning Trust or new to the role of headteacher. The delegates this year included a wide range of our incredible new leaders spanning both phases and schools in a range of contexts, clusters and sizes.

The DHP pathway is designed around three modules: coaching, professional development and induction. The group started the year in the 'induction' phase with an intense batch of sessions on all things 'GLT Shared Service', from estates to finance, governance to admissions. Feedback on these sessions was really positive, with delegates sharing reflections like, “it’s reassuring to know just how much organised support there is for us. It doesn’t feel so lonely!”, “the accessibility and approachability of the staff, irrespective of role, alongside their clear drive for achieving the best for children in our care was excellent” and “these really helped me put names to faces and understand the structure of the shared services."

The pathway included six PD sessions:

1. Leading self
2. Leading others
3. Leading strategy
4. Leading risk
5. Leading change
6. Leading improvement

Each delivered with the aim of providing high leverage training to ensure headteachers gain strong people, self, system and strategic leadership skills. Feedback on these sessions has also been really strong. Here’s a quote from one of our participants:

“These have been really useful sessions. It has been great to network with other leaders (such as Kate Ivackovic or Will) in an environment which encourages discussion and open thought. It has been reassuring to meet with other new heads and discuss our hopes, dreams (and sometimes fears too), openly. A really positive experience carefully designed which I would recommend to anyone new to headship.”

Finally, each of our delegates has benefited from having their own coach throughout the year. We believe wholeheartedly in the power of coaching to give leaders space and time to reflect, be curious and consider their own goals and challenges deeply. These sessions have also been warmly received and the impact of coaching through this programme is leading to wider reflections around how we can expand the provision of coaching further through other pathways and enhancements offered by the Shared Service.

If you would like to find out more about the Developing Headteachers Programme, then you can visit the pathway’s intranet site here or contact Katherine Brown.

Katherine Brown, Assistant Director of Secondary Education