Helping teachers develop into the next generation of leaders to
raise standards across schools will be the focus of a new
leadership academy announced by Welsh Education Secretary .
Updating Assembly Members on plans for a new National Academy for
Educational Leadership, she set out how the new organisation will
be arms length from the Welsh Government with the ambition of
preparing all leaders in the Welsh education system with the right
skills and knowledge to benefit pupils.
The former chief inspector for Estyn Ann Keane has been working
with a range of experts to look at how the academy can be
established. Her ‘shadow board’ has made a range of
recommendations, including:
Allowing fair access for teachers to develop their leadership
skills.
Using the latest evidence and research on how leadership in
schools makes a difference.
Developing current leaders in schools while identifying future
leaders.
said:
“The quality of our education system cannot exceed the quality of
our teachers and leadership is central to this.
“Our challenge, as noted by the OECD, is to ensure a national
approach to leadership, and make it a prime driver of our
education reforms.
“The evidence shows leaders in our school can make a huge
difference. I want us to have the right leaders with the right
skills to raise standards and set the highest expectations for
all our young people.
“I have instructed officials to start scoping the timescale and
resources needed to establish the Academy by spring 2018 at the
latest. I expect this to be an agile organisation with a small
strategic board and led by a chief executive.
“I want to thank Ann Keane for her work as we set up the academy.
In a short space of time Ann and shadow board have made good
progress on this issue.”
Ann Keane said:
“I am very pleased that the Cabinet Secretary has accepted the
recommendations of the shadow board. They are the result not only
of our deliberations but of engagement with head teachers and
other leaders in the education sector across Wales and an
understanding of what happens in other countries.
“We will be sharing more detailed proposals for the Academy in
meetings around Wales over the next few weeks to make sure that
what is planned for the Academy enables equity of access to
high-quality leadership development for leaders and aspiring
leaders who work in education sectors in Wales, for the ultimate
benefit of learners.
“The Education Secretary wants the academy up and running by
2018.
The body is part of a range of Welsh Government reforms including
changes to initial teacher training, proposals to revamp teaching
standards and new accreditation criteria for initial teacher
training providers.”
