School performance

The aim of national and local leaders of education is to increase the leadership capacity of other schools to help raise standards. This is one part of the government’s plan to give schools a central role in developing a self-improving and sustainable school system.

NLE

Headteachers of outstanding schools are able to become accredited as national leaders of education (NLE). In this role, the headteacher and their own staff support schools in challenging circumstances, tailored to the needs of the supported school.

To become an NLE, a headteacher must:

• be judged an outstanding serving headteacher with at least three years’ headship experience
• expect to remain at their current school for at least two years after being selected
• be accountable for one or more schools that meet the NSS criteria
• have the full support of their school’s governing body and director of children’s services or senior educational professional.

Their school must:

• be judged as outstanding by Ofsted
• show consistently high levels of pupil performance and progress or continued improvement over the last 3 years
• be above the current minimum standards set by the government
• have outstanding senior and middle leaders who have demonstrated that they have a strong track record and the capacity to provide significant support to underperforming schools.

LLE

Headteachers who would like to work with other schools to improve pupil outcomes can become accredited as local leaders of education (LLE). They work in a coaching or mentoring role with a headteacher whose school is in challenging circumstances.

LLEs must:

• have at least three years of experience as a serving headteacher
• have an Ofsted rating of good
• expect to remain at their current school for at least two years after being selected
• have accountability for one or more school(s) that meet the criteria below
• have the support of their school’s governing body and local authority or a senior educational professional
• demonstrate that they have sufficient experience providing support as a coach or mentor to another headteacher or senior member of staff at a school other than their own
• commit to the time expectations.

Their school must:

• have an Ofsted rating of good
• show consistently high levels of pupil performance or continued improvement over the last 3 years
• be above the current minimum standards set by the government
• have experienced senior leaders with capacity to work with other schools.

SLE

Experienced middle or senior leaders who are interested in supporting leaders in other schools, can become accredited as specialist leaders of education (SLE).

Teaching schools are responsible for the selection and placement of SLEs. This is one part of the government’s plan to give schools a central role in developing a self-improving and sustainable school-led system.

SLEs must have:

• a successful track record of working effectively within their own school and/or across a group of schools, or working with a range of leaders within a single school
• evidence of successfully using coaching and/or facilitation skills to bring about sustainable improvements
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• an understanding of what constitutes ‘outstanding’ in their field of expertise and the ability and confidence to communicate this
• an understanding of how their specialism and skills can contribute to wider school improvement goals
• an analytical approach in identifying and prioritising needs
• the ability to set and establish new and innovative working practices
• the ability to grow leadership capacity in others.