Frequently asked questions
General questions about the initiative and its links to NCSL’s wider work
- What are the aims of this Leadership Network national initiative?
- How does this initiative link with NCSL’s four core goals?
- Why have we identified the theme 'narrowing the gap' and adopted it across all nine regions?
Practical questions about the initiative
- What will groups participating in the initiative gain?
- Who can take part in the initiative?
- What will participating groups be expected to do?
- What will the Leadership Network provide?
- What will the launch event and regional learning events provide?
- How will the initiative be evaluated and how will the groups support this evaluation?
- What information will I need to have to hand to be able to apply online?
General questions about the initiative and its links to NCSL’s wider work
1. What are the aims of this Leadership Network national initiative?
The aims are that:
- the initiative will have demonstrated effective approaches for learning to lead to narrow the gap
- participants will have their leadership for narrowing the gap improved by increasing their capacity to act, increasing their confidence and deepening their understanding of successful practice
- the outcomes will be shared with a wider audience
2. How does this initiative link with NCSL’s four core goals?
- Develop excellent school leadership to transform children’s achievement and well-being
The initiative will provide an opportunity for school leaders to work in collaboration with their peers, NCSL and other key stakeholders to learn how to lead more effectively to narrow the gap for groups of children and young people.
- Identify and grow tomorrow’s leaders
By inviting the involvement of at least two leaders from each participating organisation the Initiative will provide opportunities for leaders to work alongside other senior leaders to further develop their understanding of leadership.
- Develop leadership within and beyond the school
By inviting applications from groups that may include organisations other than schools, the Initiative is seeking to explore how developing effective collaborative leadership can have a greater impact on outcomes for children and young people.
3. Why have we identified the theme 'narrowing the gap' and adopted it across all nine regions?
NCSL’s Annual Conference in 2008 highlighted three themes driving much of the work of NCSL this year. One of these themes, narrowing the gap, was chosen for this initiative for a number of reasons.
- It is increasingly recognised as a priority by leaders in individual schools, through to local authorities and nationally.
- The theme seemed to particularly resonate with Leadership Network members.
- A considerable body of research is being developed by NCSL and other key stakeholders to support leaders in this area and will be available for use in the national initiative from autumn 2008.
- Other key groups including the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Local Government Association/Improvement and Development Agency (IdEA) have produced tools and materials that support leaders in narrowing the gap and the initiative will provide a vehicle through which these materials can reach a wide audience.
- The initiative will, in turn, contribute to wider body of knowledge about effective leadership for narrowing the gap using these resources.
The Leadership Network recognises that narrowing the gap requires leadership for every child and for the whole child. It also requires an appreciation of those factors that may prevent some children and young people from experiencing the outcomes they deserve; an appreciation that schools do not control all those factors; an appreciation that for them to be successfully addressed partnership and collaborative working are required.
The Leadership Network has chosen to focus on a single theme, rather than a number of themes in each region, for the 2008-09 initiative as this will enable us to hold national events and share expertise and knowledge across the network and beyond more readily.
Practical questions about the initiative
1. What will groups participating in the initiative gain?
Participating groups will:
- have access to newly developed research and resources on narrowing the gap
- send two representatives to the national launch event where participants will explore this current research and tools focused on narrowing the gap
- have access to self-assessment and review materials that will support greater understanding of the local context
- work through a supported and facilitated process to action plan for narrowing the gap
2. Who can take part in the initiative?
Please see the eligibility web page.
3. What will participating groups be expected to do?
Please see the what is involved web page.
4. What will the Leadership Network provide?
In addition to support from the 18 regional leaders, the Leadership Network will provide additional support from consultants and evaluators. The network will provide:
- £4300 for each group
- resources including self-assessment framework
- research and resources from narrowing the gap projects undertaken by key external partners
- a national launch event
- support from regional leaders and additional consultants
- regional learning events, one in each of the North, Central and South regions
5. What will the launch event and regional learning events provide?
The launch event will be held at NCSL in Nottingham on 4 November 2008. It will be an opportunity for two representatives from each group to meet with the Leadership Network regional leaders, national initiative consultants and fellow leaders engaged in the initiative. Attendance at this event, excluding travel, is funded centrally by the initiative. Accommodation will be available for those participants who wish to travel and stay the night before.
The event will provide:
- access to research, materials and tools from a number of national projects with a focus on narrowing the gap
- access to resources to support collaborative working
- the opportunity to reflect on appropriate learning processes to be adopted by the group between January and May 2009
- self-assessment materials to support each group in their planning processes
- support for the action planning process
Regional learning events will be held in each of the North (North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, and North East), Central (West Midlands, East Midlands and East of England) and South (South West, London and South East) regions in late March. Dates and venues to be confirmed.
Nominated representatives from groups will attend this event and the number of places available is to be confirmed. Attendance at these regional events, excluding travel, is funded centrally by the initiative.
The regional learning events will provide:
- updated research, resources and tools from national projects with a focus on narrowing the gap
- an opportunity to reflect on learning processes used by the group between January and March 2009
- access to case studies where successful strategies have been employed to narrow the gap
6. How will the initiative be evaluated and how will the groups support this evaluation?
Evaluation will be the most important part of ensuring that what is learnt by individuals and groups is also shared more widely.
There are two key questions underpinning the whole initiative. One is for participants: "What must I do as a leader to narrow the gap?" and the other is for the Network and NCSL: "How do leaders learn to narrow the gap?"
The main sources of evidence will be feedback from the groups participating collected through their reflections and plans, feedback to consultants, feedback and discussions at events and the final reports and review meetings with regional leaders.
This evidence will be collated and analysed by an external evaluator who will also have participated in the design of the structure and questions for feedback and review visits.
Whilst the ultimate intention is clearly to impact on the outcomes for children and young people, in this short time frame we do not anticipate that there will be any observable widespread effect. We do anticipate that participants will be able to describe what progress and change, if any, has taken place.
7. What information will I need to have to hand to be able to apply online?
Please see the how to apply web page.
