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Belong, connect and improve with SSAT membership
What does SSAT membership offer you?
Membership means becoming part of our powerful network of school leaders, giving you the space to think beyond the everyday.
At the heart of our membership offer is leadership development – training and tools for all your staff, and recognition for students.
Our networks connect you with like-minded peers to reflect and test thinking in an environment that’s positive, reassuring and empowering. There are opportunities to contribute to the development of others, as well as to receive guidance and support.
Your membership includes:
- Leadership development at all levels, including student leadership
- Access to training and tools to support sustainable improvement
- Connecting with our national – and international – network of schools
“If you are not already a member I would strongly suggest you consider what membership could offer your school.”
Your membership leads
Our friendly and experienced membership team are on hand to support you. Dan and Alex have a wealth of experience and together they lead the SSAT Membership networks.
Dr Dan Belcher, Senior Education Lead
Dan leads on SSAT’s leadership programmes and MAT offer. He designs and delivers professional development to enable all staff to reach their goals and lead sustainable school improvement.
Alex Galvin, Senior Education Lead
Alex runs SSAT’s Leading Edge network, our network for high performing schools, supporting schools to collaborate, innovate and share best practice. She also leads on our Embedding Formative Assessment programme.
Why schools choose SSAT
We hear time and again that the main reasons school leaders decide to join us and choose to stay are:
Our flagship leadership programmes
This year, members will benefit from programmes for emerging leaders, middle leaders, senior leaders and primary subject leaders as well as our unique student leadership offer.
Valuable networking and collaboration
Membership means connections beyond your own walls; to explore and learn from the practice of your peers from across the country: the people who do the job you do. It’s connecting with shared values and the opportunity for collaborative thinking, practical advice and best practice. And sometimes – simply put – it’s a cup of tea and a biscuit while together we try to digest the latest government directives. Our Education team are very accessible and our member schools say they not only feel better supported and enabled to support others, but they become more outward facing – both as educational institutions, and as individual practitioners.
A trusted partner
We’ve been advocates of a ‘by schools, for schools’ approach for many years, respecting the expertise within our networks. Education is complex, and we firmly believe that school leaders are best placed to make decisions about the needs of their learners. We bring big picture thinking, clarity on key issues and opportunities to connect beyond your local networks. We don’t believe in telling you what to do, but we believe in the value of professional conversations, practical advice and sharing ideas. Our team are friendly and accessible, and where we can’t help, we will find someone who can.
Value for money – prices fixed from 25/26
Our membership package has been carefully developed and enhanced over many years. Take a look at the wide range of benefits and features on offer, and we think you’ll agree that joining us provides outstanding value.
“SSAT… have proved to be a powerful and beneficial support for us as a school community [helping] to shine a light on what we are doing well, and what we need to be doing better, in open, transparent and non-judgemental ways.”
Professional development for all leaders
Invest in your staff with nationally recognised leadership programmes for every career stage – including those all-important emerging leaders. Many school and system leaders have grown and honed their skills as a result of our programmes.
Emerging leaders
Leadership Legacy Project
Leadership Legacy Project
In-person and online
One place every year
Year-long development opportunity for high-potential teachers in the early stages of their career.
Middle leaders
Middle leaders
Three places every year
Five online sessions
Empower and equip staff to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours of effective middle leadership.
Senior leaders
Senior leaders
Two places every year
Five online sessions
New six-month programme for Assistant and Deputy headteachers working across all school types and phases.
Primary subject leaders
Primary subject leaders
Two places every year
Five online sessions
New six-month programme designed to give primary subject leaders the knowledge, practical tools and confidence to lead their subject effectively.
Enrichment for all learners
Create the conditions for learners and staff to thrive. Supporting the DfE’s agenda we give national recognition of student leadership skills, alongside a comprehensive framework.
Student leadership recognition
Student leadership recognition
Unlimited places
Offered school wide
With four award levels, every learner can apply for recognition of the leadership work they have done with certificates of achievement.
Leadership recognition framework
Leadership recognition framework
Unlimited places
Offered school wide
Comprehensive framework and audit tool enables all learners to self-assess their experiences in and out of school. Students become active participants and contributors.
Connect with peers in person
Membership gives you more than resources. We connect you to a national network of schools committed to improving education together.
Member conference
Member conference
In-person and online
One place every year
Connect in-person to share practice and collaborate on priorities. Explore how to build clear development pathways and progression routes for your whole team.
Make evidence-informed decisions
Use practical frameworks, research and diagnostic tools to understand where your school is now and confidently plan what’s next. Included are webinars, regular publications and evidence- based resources.
Topical webinars
Topical webinars
Practical insights
Topical updates and practice sharing webinars take place throughout the year – exclusive to members.
Essential workshops
Essential workshops
Make sure changes you implement in school have meaningful and sustained impact. Structured 75-minute workshops to help develop implementation practice. Co-created with the EEF, SSAT member schools and the Research Schools Network.
Framework for Exceptional Education
School improvement blueprint
Framework for Exceptional Education
Designed and reviewed in collaboration with member schools, our unique tool is invaluable to support self-review and planning across 12 key strands of practice.
Member library
Member library
Exclusive resources
Members-only access to a large digital hub of resources, videos and school improvement tools.
eNewsletter
eNewsletter
Regular insights
Members-only regular update throughout the academic year, sharing news, practice and celebration stories from the network, alongside the latest thought leadership and evidence-based resources.
Educational Outcomes database
School performance dashboard
Educational Outcomes database
Unique database allowing you to compare your performance data with every other school in the country.
School Culture Dashboard
Annual survey
School Culture Dashboard
Gain unique insights into the culture of your school and compare to other member schools with our follow-up report.
Celebrate
Opportunities to celebrate the achievements of your setting and your learners.
Educational Outcomes Awards
School Recognition for Student Leadership
School Recognition for Student Leadership
Four award levels
Assess the impact of student leadership in your setting and evaluate the mechanisms and support structures that enable children to become effective leaders.
Exclusive membership discounts
If you would like to add any additional programmes to your membership package – such as our popular Lead Practitioner training, our unique Ofsted audit tool and inspection readiness insights, our EEF-promising-programme Embedding Formative Assessment (EFA), or even bespoke behaviour and attendance support – you’ll be pleased to hear that our members come first. You’ll not only gain priority access, but we know you will appreciate the significant discounts across our offering, as a core benefit of your membership package.
Your Membership calendar at a glance
September
- Student Leadership Recognition Scheme – Registration opens
- School Recognition for Student Leadership – Registration opens
- SSAT Member Conference – Registration opens
October
- Leadership Legacy Project – Programme begins
- Senior Leaders Programme – Registration opens
November
- Senior Leaders Programme – Programme begins
- SSAT Member Conference – 30 November
December
- Middle Leaders Programme – Registration opens
- Effective Primary Subject Leadership – Registration opens
January
- Effective Primary Subject Leadership – Programme begins
- Middle Leaders Programme – Programme begins
- School Culture Survey – Registration opens
February
- School Culture Survey – Schools complete survey
March
- School Culture Survey – Bespoke report for each school
- Educational Outcomes – Latest data released
- Educational Outcomes – Award winners announced
April
- School Culture Survey – Results: National benchmarking report
- Leading Edge Membership – Programme launch
May
- Leadership Legacy Project – start identifying your next generation of leaders
June
- Student Recognition Scheme – Last chance to submit for certification
- School Recognition for Student Leadership – Last chance to submit for certification
July
- Leadership Legacy Project – Project submission. Recruitment window for next cohort opens
- Leadership Legacy Project – Registration opens for 26/27
Impact
Membership is your gateway to:
Leadership development across all levels of staff, positively impacting culture, recruitment and retention.
A regular programme of informative events including our in-person national conference.
Empowering your learners with our highly successful student leader recognition scheme.
Celebration of your school’s achievements with our Educational Outcomes Awards.
Practical guidance to inform better decision making – including our national school culture survey.
Deeper connections with our experienced education team for guidance and support.
Proven professional development courses, tools and events, at significantly discounted rates.
Collaboration with peers across the country. We can connect you with schools in a similar context or a range of different settings for practical support and inspiration.
“Being a member of the SSAT has supported the professional development of staff at The Basildon Upper Academy at all levels. Our engagement in the various programmes has enabled us to work alongside colleagues across the country, sharing ideas, strategies and resources that benefit the students we teach, as well as challenging us as leaders. As members we have engaged in multiple programmes, discovering new and innovative ways of implementing best practice. The support we receive from the SSAT is invaluable, if you are not already a member I would strongly suggest you consider what membership could offer your school.”
Deputy Headteacher, The Basildon Upper Academy
“The recognition framework has enabled us to move from viewing leadership as something held by a small group of students to something that is developed across the whole school…As a result, we are seeing students become more reflective, more confident, and more willing to take initiative; often in ways they would not previously have recognised as leadership. It has been genuinely inspiring.”
“Our long-standing relationship with the SSAT has been instrumental in driving staff development and school improvement across multiple levels. From our newly qualified staff completing the legacy project – which has delivered a significant, measurable impact across the school – to the exceptional leadership courses offered, the SSAT’s programmes have consistently supported our team’s professional growth and we have seen all staff who have participated in these programmes achieve promotions.”
Headteacher/CEO, Townley Grammar School
“SSAT have been hugely influential in the development of The Trust over a number of years. Our relationship has been deep and bespoke, this has enabled us to shape the CPD and support services to really meet our needs. As long-term delivery partners for the full range of programmes, we have found them to be incredibly impactful in building leadership retention, development and capacity. I cannot speak highly enough of the team and services they provide; I would recommend them to anyone.”
CEO, The Futures Trust
Speak to a member
This academic year we celebrate the 40th anniversary of our successful by schools, for schools approach.
We invite you to connect with one of the schools in our network to discuss the impact membership has had in their setting.
Book a call to discuss your priorities and connect with one of our member schools.
By schools for schools
Need more information?
Call one of our helpful team on 020 7802 2300 or fill in the form and tell us your priorities and we’ll get back to you shortly.
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