Senior Leaders Programme: Leading with Purpose
Overview
Our Senior Leaders Programme is built around the latest global evidence for effective senior leadership in schools. Across three immersive face-to-face events and six online modules, you will develop the expertise to lead improvement beyond the classroom. The programme draws on global research into leadership, professional learning, curriculum design, behaviour, and organisational management. You’ll leave equipped to shape vision and strategy, build staff capacity, improve teaching quality, strengthen school culture, manage resources effectively, and lead in partnership with parents and communities.
Programme Structure
3 Face-to-Face Events (6 days in total) – Each event introduces two modules through interactive workshops, case studies, and expert input.
6 Modules – After each event, you’ll undertake approximately 20 hours of online learning per module to deepen understanding and apply it to your school context.
Module 1: Leading with Vision and Strategy
Face-to-Face Day
This opening module explores how senior leaders develop a compelling vision and align strategy with school priorities. You’ll examine the research behind vision-driven leadership (Robinson, 2010) and learn how to translate values into measurable outcomes. Through case studies and peer discussion, you’ll build skills in setting direction, communicating purpose, and leading improvement planning.
Online Module
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Conduct a vision and mission audit of your school.
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Map strategic priorities to pupil outcomes and school improvement goals.
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Analyse international case studies of schools where clear vision improved culture and attainment.
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Draft a strategy statement that communicates your leadership vision to staff and stakeholders.
Key Questions
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What makes a vision compelling and actionable?
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How can strategy be aligned to measurable outcomes?
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How do you communicate vision so it inspires and unites your team?
How This Transforms Practice
By grounding your leadership in vision and strategy, you’ll create clarity and shared purpose. Leaders who embed evidence-based strategy ensure that improvement efforts are coherent, sustained, and focused on student learning.
Module 2: Developing People and Building Capacity
Face-to-Face Day
This module focuses on building capacity within your school by developing others. You’ll explore research on instructional leadership (Leithwood et al., 2006) and staff motivation. Practical activities will include coaching, mentoring, and designing CPD that drives classroom improvement.
Online Module
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Review your school’s current staff development systems.
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Design a CPD model that combines evidence-based training with classroom coaching.
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Explore strategies for succession planning and distributed leadership.
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Reflect on your own leadership style and its impact on staff development.
Key Questions
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How can senior leaders create a culture of professional growth?
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What role do coaching and mentoring play in capacity-building?
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How can succession planning secure sustainable improvement?
How This Transforms Practice
Effective leaders multiply their impact by developing others. By building staff expertise and confidence, you’ll create a stronger workforce capable of leading continuous improvement across the school.
Module 3: Teaching and Curriculum Excellence
Face-to-Face Day
Senior leaders play a pivotal role in ensuring teaching quality and curriculum coherence. In this module, you’ll explore curriculum planning, pedagogy, and assessment through an evidence-based lens. You’ll also consider how leaders can monitor classroom practice without creating unnecessary workload.
Online Module
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Conduct a curriculum sequencing review for one subject area.
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Analyse how assessment data can inform teaching and learning decisions.
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Explore research: Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction and the EEF Teaching & Learning Toolkit.
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Develop an action plan to improve teaching quality across your phase or department.
Key Questions
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How can leaders ensure a curriculum is coherent and ambitious?
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What evidence-informed practices most improve teaching quality?
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How do you balance accountability with support in monitoring teaching?
How This Transforms Practice
Leaders who prioritise curriculum and pedagogy enable teachers to deliver high-quality learning consistently. This ensures that pupils experience well-sequenced, effective teaching that maximises progress.
Module 4: Leading Behaviour and Culture
Face-to-Face Day
A strong school culture underpins every aspect of learning. This module examines how leaders set high expectations, design effective behaviour systems, and promote equity and inclusion. You’ll explore the evidence behind behaviour interventions (EEF, 2019) and learn to embed approaches that enhance wellbeing and belonging.
Online Module
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Conduct a review of your school’s behaviour and culture strategy.
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Analyse case studies of schools transforming culture through evidence-based policies.
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Explore restorative approaches alongside traditional discipline systems.
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Design a culture development plan that integrates expectations, rewards, and wellbeing.
Key Questions
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How can leaders set and sustain high expectations across the school?
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What are the most effective evidence-based approaches to behaviour?
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How do you balance discipline, inclusion, and wellbeing?
How This Transforms Practice
A positive school culture reduces disruption and creates conditions for learning. By embedding clear expectations and inclusive practices, leaders shape environments where pupils and staff thrive.
Module 5: Organisational Management and Resources
Face-to-Face Day
This module equips senior leaders to manage resources, time, and staff effectively. You’ll explore how to make strategic decisions about budgets, timetabling, and staffing. You’ll also learn to use data intelligently to support accountability and improvement.
Online Module
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Review your school’s budget allocation and identify priority areas for improvement.
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Analyse international research on effective resource management (OECD, 2020).
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Explore case studies of schools using data to drive decisions.
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Develop a resource plan that aligns staff, time, and funding with strategic goals.
Key Questions
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How do leaders ensure resources are used effectively to support learning?
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What systems enable transparent and efficient organisational management?
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How can leaders use data to inform sustainable improvement?
How This Transforms Practice
By managing resources strategically, senior leaders ensure every decision maximises impact on student outcomes. Effective organisational management builds efficiency, accountability, and trust across the school.
Module 6: Working in Partnership and Leading Across Communities
Face-to-Face Day
The final module examines leadership beyond the school gate. You’ll explore how to engage parents, boards, and local communities as partners in improvement. Drawing on Fullan’s work on system leadership (2014), you’ll learn how to lead collaboration across schools and networks.
Online Module
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Map current partnerships within your school community.
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Explore case studies of successful school-community collaboration.
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Develop a stakeholder engagement plan to build stronger relationships.
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Draft a cross-school improvement initiative that could be scaled collaboratively.
Key Questions
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How can leaders build trust with parents and communities?
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What makes external partnerships effective and sustainable?
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How can collaboration across schools accelerate improvement?
How This Transforms Practice
Leaders who engage beyond the school strengthen trust, accountability, and resources. By building partnerships and networks, you’ll expand opportunities for pupils and contribute to wider system improvement.
