University of Teesside joins school leadership programme

The University of Teesside is to play a major role in the delivery of leadership programmes for key staff in the North-East’s primary and secondary schools. The University is part of The Northern Partnership, a consortium of universities from the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humberside, that will deliver the programmes to thousands of school leaders across the North of England.

The Northern Partnership has been commissioned by the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) to deliver three of its programmes from September 2006: Leading from the Middle, Leadership Pathways and the Early Headship Programme. More than eighty suppliers submitted tenders to deliver these programmes.

The Partnership is a consortium, led by the Centre for Educational Leadership at the University of Manchester. It also includes Teesside Business School (TBS) at the University of Teesside and Carnegie Leaders in Learning Partnership Ltd, based at Leeds Metropolitan University.

TBS will deliver programmes based in the North East, drawing upon two areas of expertise, leadership and public sector management. The School has two established Centres which focus on these areas; the Centre for Leadership and Organisational Change and the Centre for Public Services Management.

The programmes to be delivered are:

• Leading from the Middle: NCSL’s programme for middle leaders including heads of department and heads of key stages. A group of participants work together on the programme in school, supported throughout by a leadership coach who is often a senior leader within the school.
• Leadership Pathways: a personalised and flexible programme to be launched this October, and provides development for middle leaders, assistant heads and deputies.
• Early Headship Provision: headteachers in the first three years of their first headship are eligible for this Programme, which provides support for school leaders in this phase of their career.

Steve Munby, Chief Executive for NCSL, said: “NCSL has chosen these suppliers after a rigorous selection process. We are confident that they will provide teachers and school leaders with the very best professional development, which will equip leaders to make a difference to children’s life chances.”

Professor Christos Kalantaridis (Assistant Dean at TBS), pictured, said: “This has been an outstanding success for the School. It places us at the heart of the communities we aspire to serve, developing leaders in schools. Also our participation in the Northern Partnership is a strategic decision that will enable us to work with institutions of international acclaim for the benefit of the region.

"This has been very much a collective effort within TBS and beyond. Academics, administrators as well as business development managers worked hard to bring this contract to Teesside. Expertise was also brought in from other Schools, such as Health & Social Care, when needed.”

Nigel Evans (Acting Dean of TBS) said: “This prestigious contract demonstrates Teesside Business School’s continuing commitment to developing a diversified portfolio of activities in which enterprise supported by research are key elements”.

For more details on NCSL Programmes call Joanne Hughff on 01642 384652, or email j.hughff@tees.ac.uk.

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