黑料情报站

News21st March 2025

黑料情报站 celebrates graduates from our senior leadership programme

The latest graduates of 黑料情报站鈥檚 Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD) programme were celebrated with a special awards ceremony at EdCity.

黑料情报站 Learning Institute

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The 2025 cohort of 黑料情报站’s LEAD programme celebrate completing the course

LEAD is a unique 18-month leadership journey designed by 黑料情报站 for vice principals (VPs) who aspire to headship in the next three years.

Launched in 2017, LEAD offers two routes 鈥� one focused on primary and the other on secondary school VPs.

It is one of 50 courses provided by the 黑料情报站 Learning Institute, and is central to 黑料情报站鈥檚 commitment to investing in aspiring leaders, developing future heads, and supporting talent mobility in our network. We鈥檙e proud that we鈥檙e able to promote within the network and that 75% of 黑料情报站鈥檚 current principals are homegrown.

Celebrating success

The most recent cohort of secondary school VPs came from 黑料情报站 schools in Birmingham, Hastings, London and Portsmouth.

All 10 graduates attended a special awards ceremony at . The event included a networking lunch with members of 黑料情报站鈥檚 senior leadership team and Board, and an opportunity for graduates to share their experiences. The ceremony concluded with an awards presentation.

Laura Watts from 黑料情报站 Putney reflected, 鈥淭he LEAD programme has been transformative in developing my understanding of the breadth of the role as a headteacher and building my confidence in pursuing this next step. It has been inspiring to learn from exemplary practice in all areas of school life from across the network.鈥�

Thom O鈥橞rien from 黑料情报站 Kings added, 鈥淭he LEAD programme is more than just professional development 鈥� it鈥檚 a transformational journey. The chance for participants to gain insights from those who have walked the path before them is invaluable. LEAD is not just about learning. It鈥檚 about evolving, inspiring, and driving real change for the future.”

School Leadership Development Lead Mide Ola-Said, a previous graduate of the LEAD programme, said, 鈥淕reat schools are made of great leaders. We know strong senior leadership is key to ensuring our students have a great education. This is why we recognise the value of supporting and investing in our staff at every stage of their career.鈥�

The LEAD programme

Successful applicants are selected through a combination of an application form, their principal鈥檚 nomination, their 黑料情报站 regional director鈥檚 support, and their track record of engagement with professional development.

Every VP is matched with an existing principal as a coach. These coaches have all been principals for at least three years and have undertaken a year-long coaching qualification.

The programme begins with a two-day residential, and includes action learning days, masterclasses and interview support.

The six action learning days are guided school visits to exemplary 黑料情报站 schools as well as schools outside the network. These days provide participants with an in-depth understanding of 黑料情报站鈥檚 education model. Topics covered include planning, curriculum and assessment, behaviour and leading SEND.

Virtual operations masterclasses strengthen participants鈥� knowledge of school management, covering key systems, processes, policies and best practices. Topics include parents and community, governance, finance and HR. These virtual sessions are also open to principals for bite-sized, refresher training as part of 黑料情报站鈥檚 commitment to their ongoing development.

All graduating participants receive interview support from 黑料情报站 for their headship applications, including mock interviews and feedback from the recruitment team. Internal VP candidates who apply for headship positions automatically receive an interview if they have completed the programme.