Applications open for New to Senior Leadership in FE programme

Applications are now open for the next two cohorts of the Education and Training Foundation’s (@E_T_Foundation) New to Senior Leadership in Further Education (FE) programme. It is aimed at leaders who have taken up a senior leadership role within the last 18 months, recognising the significant step up they are taking form middle management and equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and behaviours to take on their roles more effectively.

Designed and delivered in partnership with the Birmingham Leadership Institute (BLI) at the University of Birmingham (@unibirmingham), the programme is funded by the Department for Education for eligible organisations funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

It covers a range of leadership themes, determined by extensive research into the development requirements of newly appointed senior leaders, including self-awareness and resilience, expectations of the leadership role, building and leading effective teams, relationship management, negotiation, leading change, strategic decision making, and corporate responsibility.

Participants are supported in several ways including a blend of theory ‘bursts’, leadership skills development, exploring knowledge and evidence, debate and facilitated group discussions, action learning sets, mentoring, and learning from leaders from the FE sector and the wider system. The programme is underpinned by an emphasis on practical application to the real challenges faced by new senior leaders and is delivered by a variety of methods over a period of six months. It costs £975 per participant.

Janet Clark, the ETF’s National Head of Leadership Development, said:

“The New to Senior Leadership in Further Education programme exists to create a well-developed non-executive leadership ‘workforce’ across FE and Sixth Form colleges that can help support a strong, resilient, and well-managed FE provider base, by enabling leaders to drive a vision for their college, operate a sound organisation and contribute to a self-improving college sector.

“Feedback from the first cohort of participants points to both the immediate and longer-term impacts for participants and their institutions, with the implementation of short-term practical changes, increased self-awareness and reflection on leadership styles, and an increased ability of how to engender change, all being cited as benefits.”

For further details of the programme and the eligibility criteria, and to request an application pack, please visit the New to Senior Leadership in Further Education programme page on the ETF website. Applicants must obtain support from an organisational sponsor and have identified a work-based project or focus for application of the learning. Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Wednesday 1 September 2021.

New to Senior Leadership in Further Education is part of the ETF’s wider professional development offer for leaders, governors and governance professionals in the FE sector. For details, please visit the Leadership Hub on the ETF website.