Registration website is now live
Fast Track Teaching residential training courses brochure 2008-09 (pdf, 1.56Mb, 40 pages)
Fast Track one-day conferences: Leading for the future flyer (pdf, 567kb, 2 pages)
Subject Leader (English), Budmouth Technology College, Dorset
English Language and Literature, Oxford University
Date of joining Fast Track: September 2004
"I lead the English department in a large, specialist technology college. I chose to make the improvement of literacy my Wider School Focus, and after my first year on Fast Track, I began the process of rolling out a whole school approach to creating a sustainable focus on reading, with the help of staff across the curriculum. As I moved into my second year on the programme, I was able to use what I had learnt to change my Wider School Focus, and to work with teams of people within my school much more successfully. I have also honed my leadership and management skills – invaluable in my role as head of department.
"My first mentor was a more experienced department colleague, who gave me advice on career progression and the opportunities to advance. I'm now mentored by an assistant principal, as my role change meant I needed somebody to support this. My mentor meets me half-termly, although we often chat outside of that time too. She offers me leadership and management advice and coaching, as well as arranging for me to gather ideas from others. For example, I have shadowed the head of sixth form.
"My personal leadership tutor (PLT) and I also have a close relationship. I log things I need to discuss with her, and she uses a series of quizzes to help me work through my current challenges. In telephone coaching sessions, we typically talk through events since the last contact, think about these and consider alternative to approaches to them. My learning journal is another great resource, and I look forward to guidance given by my PLT in my journal, as well as reading and responding to the journals of other Fast Track teachers.
"The support offered to me is certainly unique to this programme. If you want an accelerated route to senior leadership and you can commit energy, ideas and a little extra time, this is for you. You need to be hungry for achievement, but you will have all the support necessary to help you make the most of your exceptional skills and qualities."
Read Saira´s blog.
find us | press office | vacancies | conference centre | about this site | legal | site map
© National College for School Leadership
