The Leadership Coach

Being a Leadership Coach is a unique opportunity to inspire and champion future Headteachers for Wales. The Leadership Coach is integral and pivotal in ensuring the success of the NPQH programme and a key part of strategic succession planning of school leadership in Wales. Coaches will be invited by application and committed to ensuring that participants are ready to enter the role of headship equipped and confident in their role.

Key responsibilities of the Leadership Coach will be to:

• provide ongoing professional feedback to the participant
• support the participant in reflection of the 360 assessment and facilitate leadership conversations, based on personal leadership growth
• support the selection of the leadership experience
• to act as a ‘broker’ between the Host School Headteacher and participant to ensure that the participant is given support, time and opportunity to carry out the leadership experience and other agreed tasks
• support the participant in constructing their Headship entry profile

Overview

There will be 16 Leadership Coach positions available. Each Leadership Coach will have 3 participants to actively support. Providing quality feedback throughout the programme will be key to the role as well as stimulating consideration of leadership principles in challenging, yet supportive situations. The coach is a National Coach and will be expected to work across Wales. Professional and personal circumstances will be taken into consideration. Reimbursement for travel will be provided where necessary.

The Leadership Coach will be allocated to the participant with the understanding that the coach can be changed at the outset where a conflict of interest exists, for example based on language, locality, faith, or known relationships. The participant will be given a summary of the Leadership Coach’s experience to date and ways in which the coach can support aspects of their professional work.

The Leadership Coach will be expected to provide feedback on the participants’ progress during the programme. The participant will be able to see the Leadership Coach’s feedback before it is shared with programme leaders. The participants will also provide feedback on the Leadership Coach to the programme leaders.

The Leadership Coach will be expected to work with different triads in order to increase the participants purchase on their learning. This will also ensure moderation and standardisation.

The Leadership Coach role will be funded and each coach will be allocated a total of 23.5 days to support participants.

Training for Leadership Coaches will take place on 10 December.

How do I apply?

There are three stages to the application process:

• completion of an application form
• national panel to assess and sift all applications
• successful applicants at the sift stage will be invited to an interview if necessary.

Applications are welcomed from existing headteachers (or very recently retired headteachers) and others from leadership roles in appropriate organisations who believe they can demonstrate their:

• vision to achieve high standards and high aspirations for all learners
• experiences in coaching and developing others to develop their leadership skills
• readiness, expectations and commitment to support others in preparation for headship

Stage 1: Application

Applicants are required to submit an application form evidencing their skills and relevant experience. The application form can be downloaded below.

All applications should be submitted to: LeadershipDevelopmentDatblyguArweinyddiaeth@gov.wales by 16:00 on 30 September.

Applicants are required to provide details of two referees. One referee should work with the candidate on a daily basis and one referee should work at a local, regional or national level.

Stage 2: Sift

Following the closing date for the applications, a national panel will be convened to assess and sift all applications. The selection panel will include representatives from local authorities and regional partnerships. Applicants’ names will be anonymised at this stage of the process.

If successful at sift, references will be requested.

Unsuccessful applicants at the sift stage will be notified by Welsh Government.

The decision of the sifting panel will be final.

Stage 3: Interview

Successful applicants at the sift stage will be invited to an interview if necessary.

Appeals

Applicants will not be able to appeal against the decision of the national selection panel.