Target audience: Colleagues who are newly appointed as Headteachers or Acting Headteachers (from the early September 2023 onwards).

The Newly Appointed and Acting Headteacher Programme is available to all newly appointed and acting Headteachers in Wales. It is a national two-year programme delivered by regional consortia and is endorsed by the National Academy for Educational Leadership.

The programme is a common entitlement for Newly Appointed and Acting Headteachers, with the expectation that the programme will be completed by all. 

Cohort 6 of new and acting headteachers will commence the programme in Autumn 2023.

Participants will explore and develop their skills to:

• Develop strategies, structures and systems to ensure that school is working effectively towards achievement of its vision, centred on the learning of all students.

• Collaborate with others to lead their school effectively within its community.

• Develop a culture and practice of appropriate innovation across and beyond their school.

• Ensure a range of professional learning opportunities for the school’s workforce.

• Lead sustainable improvement in pedagogy within the school.

Event details:

The programme is structured in three phases over a 2-year period:

Phase 1: pre-programme work including a formal handover through the LA. 

Phase 2: Year 1 of Headship. This will consist of a five-day development programme focusing on local and national leadership themes, and the knowledge and skills required to develop their school as a learning organisation. Regular meetings with Leadership coach.

Phase 3: Year 2 of headship. Regular meetings with Leadership coach throughout the year.  At the end of the summer term there will be   one day where participants will share with colleagues a particular aspect of school improvement they have undertaken and also how they are building capacity within their schools. 

Each candidate is allocated a Leadership Coach and given membership of a peer group for support throughout the programme.

The programme will consist of a range of approaches and delivery methods including formal sessions along with network meetings and, where appropriate, e-learning opportunities.

The programme will be split into 5 modules over the 2 years. Each Module will consist of a National session delivered by a keynote speaker, a Regional session by effective current practitioners and an optional Playlist.

Registration will be through a national booking system, which will distribute completed forms to the respective region in which the participant is employed.  This centralising of registration will allow national data to be collected and the most appropriate arrangements put in place for each cohort.  The registration will require the endorsement of the individual’s Chair of Governors.

For further Information please contact:

Rob Phillips Interim Lead for Leadership phillipsr145@hwbcymru.net

Hazel Faulkner Business Support Officer hazel.faulkner@partneriaeth.cymru