OTSA Exploring Leadership Programme

The Exploring Leadership Programme is aimed at early career teachers, people who have completed their NQT/ECT period and who have limited or no leadership responsibility yet, who have demonstrated that they are effective classroom practitioners, with a high commitment to professional learning, as well as support staff seeking to broaden their options for career progression. It is a highly reflective programme that enables participants to recognise and nurture the leader within.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of effective leadership, a greater awareness of their own leadership strengths and areas for development, and identify their next steps in pursuing leadership opportunities and further professional learning within their schools.

Session Dates & Times

Blended learning across 5 sessions (includes 2x face to face, and 3 virtual sessions)

• Session 1: Thurs 11th January 2024 – Face to face*
• Session 2: Thurs 8th February 2024 – Virtual**
• Session 3: Thurs 14th March 2024 – Virtual
• Session 4: Thurs 2nd May 2024 – Virtual
• Session 5: Thurs 20th June 2024 – Face to face

Participants will be expected to actively participate in ALL sessions and complete inter-sessional tasks.

*Face to face sessions | 1.30pm to 4.30pm (includes lunch on arrival at 1pm)

**Virtual sessions | 4.00pm to 5.30pm

Programme Outline:

Session 1: What is Leadership?

Consideration of aspects of management and leadership. Participants will consider aspects of leadership they already have in leading learning. Case studies of effective leaders to draw out the underlying principles of effective leadership will be used.

Session 2: Self Awareness

Review outcomes from a 360 diagnostic leadership survey, carried out previously, followed by exploration of conscious leadership.

Session 3: Building Relationships

The importance of positive relationships for effective leadership. There will be opportunities to consider frameworks for effective conversations, enrolling staff in shared visions and modelling positive behaviours.

Session 4: Managing the Demands of Leadership

Presentation and discussion of a toolkit for supporting teachers in managing the demands of a leadership role, whilst maintaining the quality of their teaching.

Session 5: Reflections and Next Steps

Participants will present their reflections on leadership and the impact this has had on their own professional development. They will provide a plan for their next steps for their continuing professional learning.

Additional Elements:

• Leadership self-analysis
• Shadowing of a middle leader within their own school
• Visit to another school to see leadership in a different context (the visit may be virtual)
• Completion of a planning and reflection document, followed by final presentation of findings.

Note:

Participants will be expected to actively participate in ALL sessions and complete inter-sessional tasks.

Successful completion of the programme will be recognised through the award of an OTSA Exploring Leadership Programme certificate.

Payment

Payment is required at the time of booking by credit card, debit card or Paypal. Unless otherwise stated, a ticket gives admission to one person at face-to-face and online events. In the event that you share an online event link with other people who then attend the event, including sharing your screen, or you arrive at a venue without a ticket and we are able to admit you, we will invoice you or your organisation for additional tickets retrospectively.

Refunds

No refunds will be given with less than 30 days notice.

In the event of a refund request, please note that the Eventbrite booking fee of 6.95% plus 0.59p per ticket is not refundable.

To keep our event fees as low as possible, we are not able to issue invoices for payment by cheque or bank transfer and we are not able to reserve places without payment.

We strongly recommend that you take out ‘event ticket insurance’ which may cover the cost of your fee should you be unable to attend the event.