Framework for action

Succession planning: a case for action

This document describes why you need to take succession planning seriously and what is being done to ensure there are sufficient high calibre school leaders in the future. Specifically, it outlines the case for acting and outlines a framework for a sustainable local approach to succession planning:

  • The challenge: why we need to take action now
  • Meeting the challenge: response and strategy
  • Principles of succession planning in schools
  • Converting the principles into a framework for action
  • The framework: five foundations and seven actions


Five foundations for success

Succession planning requires firm foundations for success. This means area-wide resources, cross-school collaboration, cultures that value leadership, hard evidence and a clear strategy. Find out more about the five foundations for succession:

  • Building capacity and collaboration
  • Creating positive cultures
  • Diagnosing need and identifying resources
  • Developing strategy into a plan of action
  • Reviewing and revising


Seven local actions

The practical, local actions required for effective succession planning broadly reflect the life cycle of a leadership career. This ensures a comprehensive and integrated approach to securing the supply of talented leaders:

  • Retaining talented leaders
  • Attracting talented leaders
  • Identifying talented leaders
  • Recruiting and inducting leaders
  • Developing leaders
  • Accelerating progression
  • Managing and supporting careers


Getting started

This section provides a quick entry point to NCSL's succession planning materials and a handy reference for use in the field.


Additional materials

This section complements those above with more detailed tools, checklists and frameworks. Many of these are designed for application directly with participants.


Section 1

Section 1 of the framework has not been published in full as it was designed for use by NCSL's National Succession Consultants. However, the following extracts may be of use.