The headteacher and staff at Wigmore School in Herefordshire have been selected for a top role supporting struggling schools.
Andrew Shaw has become one of only 61 heads across the country to be appointed in this latest recruitment round by the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) to the prestigious role of National Leader of Education (NLE). It also means the school is now designated a National Support School (NSS).
To mark the occasion, Andrew Shaw has been invited to a dinner with Jim Knight, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, on Wednesday (9 July) in Whitehall. The event will give the new NLEs their first opportunity to network with each other and meet the Minister to discuss the role they will play in raising standards generally and in relation to the National Challenge – part of the Government’s strategy to improve all schools as set out in the Children’s Plan.
NLEs use their success and professionalism as school leaders, along with the staff in their school – designated a National Support School - to provide additional leadership capacity in struggling schools. The type of support provided is flexible, ranging from coaching or consultancy and interim leadership roles to leadership of more than one school in a federated or executive headship. They also have access to Government Ministers to advise on education policy, and have responsibility for helping to grow the next generation of NLEs and National Support Schools.
The latest expansion of the scheme brings the total number available for deployment nationally from September 2008 to 181. The overall expansion will see the number of NLEs increase by up to 500 by 2012 leading ultimately to 300 primary and 200 secondary National Support Schools.
Andrew Shaw, said: “This is great news for the school and its staff. Supporting other schools gives us the opportunity to develop personally as individuals and also bring something back to Wigmore School.”
Toby Salt, NCSL’s Strategic Director of School Leadership Development, said: “I am so proud that these outstanding school leaders like Andrew Shaw are being honoured in this way. NLEs, supported by their schools, have a more important role to play than ever in ensuring that excellent school leadership and the best possible opportunities are available to as many children as possible. More than 30,000 children have already benefitted from the scheme which is making a real difference. Many of the schools involved in the scheme last year saw improvements in exam results at both the support and client schools with progress achieved in excess of the improvements nationally. This is thanks to the hard work and dedication of all those involved in the scheme.”
Jim Knight, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, said: “I want our best school leaders to help support others in raising standards and National Leaders of Education have already had a substantial impact in helping to drive school improvement.
"We are clear that where possible, we want them to be part of the significant support package for National Challenge secondary schools and their feeder primary schools."