Championing emerging leaders – 1,399 and counting!

Maria Cannom, Project Officer on our leadership team, totted up the numbers this week. Since we launched the Leadership Legacy Project in 2017, 1,399 talented future leaders have been a part of the year-long programme.

The Leadership Legacy project was designed by our CEO, Sue Williamson, who wanted to ensure that our membership offered a programme that gave emerging leaders ideas, inspiration and connections to each other. As we invite nominations for our tenth cohort, the project remains true to those ideas.

I have had the great privilege of working with the most recent cohort of Leadership Legacy fellows. They are, as ever, an exceptional group of professionals. They are full of great ideas, energy and insight. It is easy to see why the senior leaders in their schools feel they have significant leadership potential.

Early in a teaching career, it can be hard to see a clear route into leadership, especially when a full timetable leaves little time for reflection. It can also be difficult to understand what different leadership roles involve: you may observe senior colleagues at work, but have few opportunities to explore what their jobs really entail.

The Leadership Legacy Project is not about fast-tracking people into senior leadership – although some participants will be rapidly promoted. It is about supporting our Fellows to develop the confidence and leadership skills they need for their next step, whatever that might be.

A key element of the Leadership Legacy project has always been the involvement of serving school leaders within the network. This provides participants with an opportunity that would be hard to find elsewhere – the chance to explore different aspects of leadership with a highly effective leader from outside your school. A huge thank you to the team of Experienced Leaders that have supported the programme this year:

• Linda Burrows, Executive Headteacher, Chorley New Road Primary Academy
• Sarah Case, Principal, Trinity Academy Halifax
• Mandi Collins, Principal, Thomas Estley Community College
• Kristy Fitzgerald, Deputy Headteacher, Warden Park Secondary Academy
• Vince Green, CEO, Summit Learning Trust
• Jo Meloni, Headteacher, Sackville School
• Kath McGuire, Deputy Headteacher, Wright Robinson College
• Lisa Mills, Principal, Drayton Manor High School
• Mary Morris, Head of School, Kings Academy Prospect
• Nick Mort, Director, Futures Education Institute
• Robin Newman, Principal, Haileybury Turnford School
• Matt Nicolle, Principal, Redmoor Academy
• Nikki Simmons, Deputy Headteacher, Warden Park Secondary Academy
• Erika Podmore, Headteacher, Eltham Hill School

We are delighted that most of our Experienced Leaders are able to continue their involvement with the programme next year. We are hugely grateful for the time and care that they give to our Leadership Legacy Fellows.

We are looking forward to meeting our next cohort of Leadership Legacy Fellows this autumn. If there is someone in your team who stands out as an emerging leader, take a look at the programme for next year. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at membership@ssatuk.co.uk.

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