The independent sector working with the National College

The National College for the Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services, formerly the National College for School Leadership (NCSL), pledges to improve children’s lives by inspiring leaders. Steve Munby, the chief executive, is committed to fulfilling this aim irrespective of the type of school in which a young person is educated. As part of this commitment, building the link between the college and the independent sector is a significant part of current activity. Jill Berry reports

This academic year, the college has appointed three independent school advocates to strengthen this link, liaising with colleagues across the independent and maintained sectors and with college staff to promote links and encourage mutual understanding, respect and co-operation. All three advocates have experience of headship in independent schools, and all are committed to the principle that leaders across the sectors have much to learn and to gain from working together. Those who have been involved in the huge range of independent/state school partnership projects which have flourished in recent years need no convincing that everyone can benefit if ideas and expertise are pooled.

As one of the three newly appointed advocates, I am confident that inclusivity and collaboration can take us forward. The national college has considerable experience in preparing, inspiring and supporting leaders in education. Raising the awareness of independent school headteachers, senior leaders, bursars/business managers and governors about what the college programmes can offer has to be a step in the right direction.

For those interested in finding out more about what the college can offer them, there are a number of possible next steps:
• visit the college’s website and the benefits of enrolling as a member (www.nationalcollege.org.uk);
as an aspiring head, consider what you might gain from completing the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers (NPQH);
• find out about the new Middle Leadership Development Programme, which is training facilitators who are then accredited to train groups of middle leaders within a cluster of schools;
• investigate the courses on offer for bursars/school business managers; and
• consider signing up for next year’s Seizing Success annual conference at the ICC in Birmingham in June, which is always an inspiring and energising experience.

The college is currently planning a post-NPQH (Headstart) online course specifically about leading an independent school, for those who have completed the NPQH and are considering the type of school they might wish to lead in the future. This training will help those who complete it to identify the distinctive features of leading an independent school and how best to prepare themselves for this.

However, as someone who has taught and led in four maintained schools and two independent schools, I am convinced that the two sectors have far more in common than is sometimes assumed by those with more limited experience. Much more binds than divides us, and sharing our concerns, ideas and initiative can help us all to improve children’s lives – and this is an endeavour to which I know we are all dedicated.

To find out more, contact:
Jill Berry (Central Region): former head of Dame Alice Harpur School, Bedford and vice-president of the GSA: jill.berry@nationalcollege.org.uk
Deborah Odysseas-Bailey (South Region): head of Babington House School and chair of the independent Cross Association Leadership Group: deborah.odysseas-bailey@nationalcollege.org.uk
Mark Ronan (North Region): head of Pocklington School, York: mark.ronan@nationalcollege.org.uk 

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