leadership pathways

EMLC is providing Leadership Pathways on behalf of NCSL in the East Midlands and the East.

Leadership Pathways offers flexible, continuing professional development that school leaders can personalise to their needs.

The programme sits between Leading from the Middle and NPQH and is ideal for senior leaders or those aspiring to a senior leadership position in the next 1-2 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Leadership Pathways like?

Leadership Pathways is a modularised NCSL programme that provides personalised leadership learning; it is designed to be flexible to suit individuals' contexts, needs and spheres of influence. The programme extends over a period of about ten months and is designed with a heavy emphasis on work-based learning and application. School-based coaches offer support and challenge to participants as they trial, refine and embed improved leadership practice in schools. There are also face to face events and access to online units and other materials. The programme also provides a foundation for leaders wishing to progress to senior positions. Click here for a multi media overview of the programme.

What are the benefits of the programme?

starts from your own learning needs
provides a range of experiences
allows you to choose the best combination of development opportunities to suit your own situation
has a strong emphasis on work based learning

Who is Leadership Pathways for?

Leadership Pathways is aimed at senior leaders or those aspiring to a senior leadership position in the next 1-2 years:

who have significant experience in school leadership roles
who will have an opportunity to undertake a whole school leadership change project
who have previous involvement in successful change management
who have the motivation to direct own leadership learning
who are currently based in school
who have identified and willing to work in partnership with an in-school coach to further leadership learning
who have the support of senior school leaders to undertake the programme

What does the programme consist of? The programme includes 3 face to face days and 2 skills days which will be run as one day events.

Participants can also attend 2 further skills days at an additional charge. In addition, participants complete an online diagnostic and have access to high quality online learning units. They also carry out related work designed to make changes in school and have the support of a school based coach.

In total participants attend 5 or 7 days (if they choose to attend the extra 2 skills days) over a period of about 10 months.

The group size for each event is likely to be between 20 and 30 participants with 2 leadership mentors co-facilitating. It is anticipated that participants will work through the programme with the same leadership mentors.

When will the next cohort start? Please visit the NCSL website for details of application rounds.

Where will events take place? Events will be scheduled by EMLC across the East and East Midlands. We finalise locations to get the best fit with where participants live to keep travel to a reasonable level.

Leadership Pathways group Some comments from recent participants:

I can't believe the course is over. its made a big impact on me. especially in the way I see myself, and how others see me. I've learnt to take a step back, observe what is happening and contribute when its necessary. the biggest impact on my life however is that its enabled me to get my first management post in another school. I couldn't believe how many people I met on core day 3 had changed jobs and got promotions since the course started in June. Good evidence that the course really does help you to become a better leader! I hope I get to meet many of the people from the course in the future many all as heads and deputies.

My final thoughts are that, even though the NCSL Leadership course was time consuming and hard work, I really enjoyed every minute of it. This is the first time in the last eight years that I have done something for myself and studied modules that were not only interesting but informative and taxing, helping me to grow as an individual and moving some of those old grey cells into action! I have come out at the other end, more knowledgeable, and far wiser. I feel the course has given me skills and tools, that are not only helpful in my professional life, but also in my private life. I have become a better listener, more patient, more reflective and more able to step back, look at situations and consider which tool would be best to use for the job at hand!! I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to participate.