Find out about becoming a national leader of education, what’s involved, and how to apply
The aim of the National Leader of Education (NLE) programme is to provide high quality school improvement support to underperforming schools.
In 2020 the NLE advisory group made a series of recommendations about the future of the programme; these included selecting a new smaller, high-quality cadre of NLEs supported by a professional development offer. As a result, the DfE will recruit a new cadre of NLEs for the 2022-23 academic year.
All current NLE accreditation will end at the end of the 2021-22 academic year. The new cadre of NLEs will be made up of headteachers with experience of turning around schools who can provide additional school improvement capacity.
How to apply
The DfE would encourage all eligible headteachers with a strong record of turning around schools to apply online to become an NLE. In order to be eligible to apply you must be named in an Ofsted report (since September 2005) as the headteacher of a school that:
has received an improved Ofsted rating from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘outstanding’ or ‘inadequate’ to ‘good’/’outstanding’ who has been in post for at least a year before the inspection showing the improvement. (If you have left the school the inspection must be within one year of you leaving).
In addition, you must:
have had no Ofsted inspections resulting in a decline to ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’ whilst in post (excluding during the first year) or within three years after leaving a school
Exceptionally, where a potential candidate does not meet the eligibility criteria but can demonstrate a very strong record of school improvement at the expression of interest stage, they will be considered for progression to the full application stage.
The application process will be in two stages:
Stage 1 – expression of interest.
Stage 2 – if successful at Stage 1 candidates will be invited to submit an online application containing answers to experience and skills-based questions.
Expressions of interest open on 10 February and close on 6 March 2022. The Stage 2 online application will be available from mid-March and will close on 24 April 2022. You will be notified by 30 June 2022 if your application has been successful.
Leaders of trusts with sponsor status do not need to apply to become NLEs as they will continue to have the opportunity to be matched, and provide improvement support ,through the Trust and School Improvement Offer.
Contact
Please get in touch using the online portal if you have any questions about the application process.
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