Today, more is expected of Educational Trust & individual School provision than ever before while at the same time resources are increasingly stretched.      

Such conditions require optimal performance in regard to the quality of leadership, effectiveness and impact of the senior leadership team.  

However, schools are set up in such a way that easily encourages misalignment, tension or dysfunctions in senior teams. In education, people are deeply emotionally connected to their subject areas. In a top team comprised of representatives from different departments, it is natural that people will both stay within their subject area and see the world through the lens of this area.

This creates additional challenges for leadership teams who need to come together and make strategic decisions for the benefit of the institution rather than operating in silos. The price for this is significant for the wellbeing and professional satisfaction of colleagues as well as for a community struggling to  deliver on its mission and goals. 

Academic institutions rarely get the investment in team development in the way that companies do. Developing critical leadership skills is an essential enabler and prerequisite of excellence in provision. How much time and budget is allocated to your leadership effectiveness?

As they are becoming more competitive and commercial, institutions need to shift towards professionalising the skills and quality of leadership teams.