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Hertfordshire Leadership Strategy

Aspiring to Leadership in Hertfordshire Schools

Hertfordshire Leadership Strategy coverAims

  • Sustain high quality school leadership
  • Develop the leaders of the future
  • Support headteacher development

The contribution of leadership and management to school improvement is critical. In Hertfordshire we celebrate outstanding quality leadership in many of our schools - this enables children and young people to achieve their full potential and improve their life chances.

In a changing national and local context however, new challenges arise for our school leaders, governing bodies, and the local authority in ensuring that we are able to sustain our current school leadership and develop leadership talent for the future.

The demands of the Every Child Matters agenda and the development of extended schools and children’s centres mean that current models of leadership may not be manageable or effective for the future.  We need to look at new leadership models for multi agency working and contributions to local community provision whilst keeping achievement at the heart of the agenda.

Demographic trends nationally indicate that between 2009 – 2011, we will face a significant challenge in the recruitment of school leaders as large numbers of headteachers, deputies and assistant headteachers retire over the next five years.  Hertfordshire figures reflect the national picture (see download more detailed information).

To meet this challenge, we will:

  • Promote leadership in schools at all levels
  • Support the building of leadership capacity within our schools
  • Provide guidance and support to headteachers and governing bodies for succession planning.

The National College for School Leadership talk of a 'national problem' and a 'local solution'. The Hertfordshire Leadership Strategy aims to provide that 'local solution' in partnership with schools.

The strategy has three development priorities:

By 2010 through the successful implementation of this strategy in Hertfordshire we expect:

  • high achievement for all children and young people
  • a deep succession talent pool from which to draw for the future
  • to be seen as 'the place to be' for leaders.

 

Hertfordshire Statistics

 

Age of leadership staff in Hertfordshire schools, all phases graph

Leadership ages by post all phases graph

Hertfordshire leadership ages by all phases


Download More Detailed Information

Ages of Leadership within Hertfordshire Schools - Headteachers, Deputy Heads and Assistant Heads by Phase
Leadership Ages within Schools in Hertfordshire - January 2007

 

Launch of Hertfordshire Leadership Strategy Presentations:

Professor Geoff Southworth, National College of School Leadership
Gillian Cawley, Head of Learning, Training & Research, Standards & Schools Effectiveness