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Networking and collaboration in the Central region

The following information provides an update on National College activity in the East Midlands, East of England and West Midlands regions, and enables you to learn from and share good practice with other leaders.

National College briefing sessions

We will shortly be delivering termly regional briefing sessions for local authority and diocese colleagues. The purpose of the sessions is to:

  • provide an update on our work in your region build and maintain strong relationships with local authorities and dioceses
  • share knowledge and information

The sessions will be held on the following dates:

  • East of England - 22 February
  • West Midlands - 2 March
  • East Midlands - 6 March

For further information or to register your interest in attending a session, email centralregion@nationalcollege.org.uk.

Disability and leadership workshop

We are currently seeking to develop strategies to support aspiring leaders with disabilities.

If you are a disabled senior leader from a primary, secondary or special school, you may be interested in attending a workshop on 14 March to identify the issues and barriers facing disabled teachers and leaders, and to help us develop strategies to support their career progression into leadership.

The workshop, which will be held at the National College's Learning and Conference Centre in Nottingham, will be a fantastic opportunity to engage with other leaders facing similar challenges and to possibly contribute to mentoring and coaching. Following the event, there may be further opportunities to become involved in developing strategies to support would-be leaders with disabilities, and also in the delivery of any support programmes that may arise.

We are able to offer £200 as a contribution towards cover and travel costs for the event. Any subsequent involvement will be at the same rate.

Participants must be willing to share their experiences and have a commitment to developing strategies to support future leaders with disabilities.

To register for this event, please email your appropriate College associate, as listed below.

East of England

Effective succession planning

Aspiring headteachers have been learning from other practitioners at conferences across the region encouraging effective succession planning: on 2 February in Hertfordshire, delegates heard from Professor Geoff Southworth as well as from serving headteachers who shared their first-hand accounts, while on 3 February, Geoff Barton, headteacher and TES columnist, was in Bury St Edmunds supporting a repeat performance of the day.

To find out more about succession planning work in the region, contact College Associate Beverly Jones at beverly.jones@nationalcollege.org.uk.

East Midlands

The different routes to academy conversion

Over the past month, a group of heads and chairs of governors from (mainly primary) schools in the region, have been meeting to find out more about the different routes to academy conversion. With our support, the group has provided an opportunity for schools to ask questions, share information and explore opportunities.

For more information about this, contact College Associate Pat Dubas at pat.dubas@nationalcollege.org.uk. You can also read more about academies in our members' library.

West Midlands

The New World of School Leadership

In partnership with The Black Country Children’s Services Improvement Partnership (BCCSIP), we held an event in Dudley on 9 February entitled 'The New World of School Leadership'. The purpose of the event, which was chaired by Mick Waters, was to give delegates a voice around the new agenda for school leaders, and to "be inspired, updated and learn from others".

Contact your College associate for more information.

Your contacts in the Central region

View all contact details for lead, deputy lead and National College associates, independent schools advocates and school business manager advocates in the Central region.