The Welsh Government has identified the need to recruit and retain inspirational leaders in order to
deliver its educational mission. As a result, a clear pathway for developing leadership from middle
leaders to executive headteachers has been devised.
Bangor University and University Wales Trinity Saint David’s (Yr Athrofa) won the tender to accredit
the National Consortia’s Leadership programmes, with teachers having the opportunity to gain
accreditation ranging from a PGCert through to a doctoral qualification.
The first programme to be endorsed by the National Educational Leadership Academy, and jointly
validated by Bangor University and University Wales Trinity Saint David’s (Yr Athrofa), is the Newly
Appointed and Acting Headteachers, with the first National Development Day held on 7 November
2018.
Professor Nichola Callow, Dean of the College of Human Sciences said:
“We are delighted that Bangor University’s School of Education, alongside University Wales Trinity
Saint David’s (Yr Athrofa), have been an integral part of delivering on the Welsh Government’s
initiative to drive improvement and leadership across the Welsh education sector for the benefit of
our children.”
The programme included a talk from keynote inspirational speaker Sir John Jones and is the
culmination of a term of firsts for the Welsh Education Consortia.
The Four consortia have been working together over the past 18 months to develop a wide-ranging
programme of collaborative projects. The Leadership Development Programme, which is part of the
consortia national project portfolio, aims to develop uniform, high quality provision for aspiring head
teachers for delivery across the four regions to increase the number of skilled leaders across Wales.
The programmes are in response to the Education in Wales: Our National Mission objective to
cultivate “inspirational leaders working collaboratively to raise standards.” The “Newly Appointed
and Acting Headteacher” programme is the first of these programmes to be completed and
commenced delivery in September 2018.
Debbie Harteveld, consortia programme sponsor and EAS Managing Director, said:
“The process has not been without its challenges, but ultimately, it has been exciting and rewarding
to work closely with colleagues on the first truly collaborative national leadership development
programme. This is just the first of what will be a continuum of leadership development
programmes offering high-quality leadership development provision to teachers at every stage in
their career wherever they may teach or live in Wales.
These programmes provide teachers with the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills
throughout their professional life.”
Programme speaker and CEO of the National Academy of Education Leadership, Huw Foster Evans,
said:
“The National Academy for Educational Leadership is very pleased to be for the official launch of the
Programme for Newly Appointed and Acting Headteachers. This is the first programme to be
endorsed by the Academy and we want to say a big thank you to the partnership of the four regions,
local authorities and universities for their work. We are confident that this new programme will offer
inspiration and support for a new generation of Headteachers who play a such key role in leading
the learning of our children and young people.”
