The National College in your region

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We have re-organised how we work with schools, academies and early years settings across the country to ensure you receive the best personalised regional support when you need it, by representatives who understand your local context.

"One of the College’s key aims is to support schools and children’s centres to become more self-improving in the future. We want more people with leadership experience working directly with school and children's centre leaders in the regions and fewer centrally based staff. These highly credible, highly knowledgeable people can help you with all aspects of the College’s work, listening to your needs and making the links for you across the College’s broad range of services, including providing advice and support for succession planning, school-to-school support and new models of school leadership." Steve Munby, former National College Chief Executive

How we can support you

College associates

College associates in your area can support you by:

  • generating and influencing leadership development through school-to-school support and support networks such as the Chairs of Headteacher Groups Network
  • brokering school-to-school support, providing tailored support for system leaders and schools in need of support, and working with teaching schools
  • brokering support for new heads in matching them with a professional partner/local leader of education
  • representing and understanding your local context and challenges, enabling support and implementation of best practice
  • raising awareness of how networking and new leadership models and partnerships can add value

If you are a school in need of support, we can help to identify the right school and system leader to help you. If you are a system leader, we can help to match your skills and expertise with a school in need of support.

Lead associates

Our lead associates are strategic points of contact for local authorities, the Department for Education, the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) and other partner organisations within their region. They will:

  • co-ordinate the work of the College with schools, academies and early years settings to ensure regional coherence
  • lead a team of associates who will deliver aspects of the College remit, focused on school improvement and leadership development
  • work with leaders to help reduce under-performance, close attainment gaps, and develop self-improving systems across primary and secondary schools and academies

Deputy lead associates

Our deputy lead associates will:

  • support lead associates by providing additional leadership capacity, ensuring work is effective and makes an impact on the system
  • support College associates and their work
  • play a significant role in developing teaching schools, in terms of support for readiness to apply, alliances and specialist leader of education designation

Independent schools associate

We have a growing partnership with independent school leaders, which we are strengthening with the support of an independent schools associate who works across the independent sector. Our associate can support you by:

  • generating and influencing leadership development through school-to-school support and support networks such as the Chairs of Headteacher Groups Network
  • helping networks of leaders and clusters of schools undertake improvement work that they have identified and, where appropriate, helping leaders to establish new, sustainable networks
  • understanding and representing your local context and challenges, enabling support and implementation of best practice from across all sectors
  • brokering and supporting the growth of networks to encourage and develop local solutions

Our associate has been involved with work that includes:

  • writing elements of the new National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)
  • drafting requirements that reflect the independent sector in terms of the designation of national leaders of education, local leaders of education and the development of teaching schools
  • working to promote the use of College resources in the independent sector, such as engagement with our Middle Leadership Development Programme
  • acting as an advocate for the independent sector in everything the College does
  • advising on structural changes to support school improvement
  • offering advice and guidance on the developing role of teaching schools

School business manager advocates

School business manager (SBM) advocates work on our behalf to raise awareness of the SBM profession, promote avenues for career progression and demonstrate how the role can improve school effectiveness. They also develop regional communications networks, including collaborative links with our College associates.

Find out more about the SBM advocate role.

Contact us

Contact a College associate or advocate in the North, Central or South region.

For general questions about our services, call the College help desk on 0845 609 0009 or email college.enquiries@bt.com.

Keep in touch with what's happening in your region

Find out what's happening in the North, Central and South regions.

Events calendar

Our events calendar lists all of our forthcoming national and regional events, which cover a range of topical themes and offer the opportunity to network with other experts and members face to face.

Online networking

Ask your peers for advice on issues relevant to you or expand your thinking by joining our online community. You will have access to a wide range of discussions and seminars hosted by leading practitioners and subject experts.