Leading from the Middle LftM Programme

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Leading from the Middle (LftM) Programme

• Organiser National College for School Leadership
  (NCSL)
• Duration 10 months
• Cost 480 Cohort 11 onwards ( cover!)
• Middle leaders work in small groups of 2-4 from
  one establishment or a collaboration of schools
  working together. The school assigns them a
  Leadership Coach.

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Who is the programme aimed at?

• Middle leaders with between 2 and 6 years
  experience in middle leadership.
• subject/curriculum leader
• head of department
• pastoral leaders, eg head of year or head of
  house
• SENCOs
• gifted and talented co-ordinators
• advanced skills teachers
• assessment co-ordinators
• career co-ordinators

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Leadership coaches

• Experienced leader within the school.
• commitment to time and energy and to making a
  positive difference to the lives of others in the
  school
• empathy with middle leaders
• people of influence, skilled at setting new
  agendas, building cohesion and support for
  actions
• good communicators
• confident self-awareness - knowing their own
  strengths and limitations
• sympathetic to the aims of online learning
• known for their ethical code and integrity -
  creating a climate of trust and respect that
  supports deeper learning

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5 Key areas

• Leadership of innovation and change
• Knowledge and understanding of their role in
  leading teaching and learning
• Enhancing self-confidence and skills as team
  leaders
• Building team capacity through the efficient use
  of staff and resources
• Active engagement in self-directed change in a
  blended learning environment
• Coaches are crucial to the process as they
  provide support and challenge to the participants.

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Programme structure

• LtfM is a blended-learning programme. Learning
  takes place through a combination of
• Face-to-face sessions
• Online activities
• School-based activity (the Leadership Focus).

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Face-to face sessions

• Three full development days and two twilight
  sessions.
• 1. Leadership coach development day (leadership
  coaches only)
• 2. Induction Engagement twilight session
  (leadership coaches and participants)
• This twilight session brings together leadership
  coaches and middle leader participants as a
  learning set. They will be introduced to the
  programme as well as experiencing the online
  learning tools.
• 3. Development day 1 Self-awareness
  (participants only)
• The focus of this day is to help middle leaders
  explore their leadership role and who they aspire
  to be within their leadership roles.
• 4. Leadership coach twilight session (leadership
  coaches only)
• 5. Development day 2 Leading innovation and
  change (participants only)
• The focus of the day is on exploring the
  processes of change, setting goals and planning
  for action.
• 6. Development day 3 Leading teams (participants
  only)
• 7. Twilight celebration A learning conversation
  (participants and leadership coaches)

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Coaching tasks model
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Leadership Focus

• Leadership Focus is a planned activity that
  allows participants to develop their leadership
  skills in practice in school.
• The activity may be based on an aspect of the
  participant's current role, such as the
  development of their team, or the delivery of a
  current initiative.

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Online learning

• Online resources such as Learn to Lead and
  Virtual School.
• Online diagnostic activities help participants
  understand their leadership strengths, team
  effectiveness and personal style preferences.
• Online learning is also a social activity where
  participants can engage with each other through
  online communities.

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Further information

• Visit the NCSL web site _at_
• http//www.ncsl.org.uk/programmes-index/lftm
  index.htm
• http//www.ncsl.org.uk/lftm-faqs

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Programme model