Talented Leaders Programme

Lead the school that needs you most.

The Talented Leaders programme places exceptional school leaders into headship roles in areas that have the greatest need of their skills. We are looking for individuals who are committed to improving outcomes for young people, especially those who are most disadvantaged.  

Talented Leaders programme

The new Talented Leaders programme is designed to match exceptional leaders to schools across the country struggling to recruit great headteachers. Successful candidates recruited to a headship position will commit to transforming their school, remaining in post for at least three years.

Heads will receive a relocation package, coaching support and tailored training from The Future Leaders Trust's Headship Institute, alongside a £50,000 Leadership Sustainability Fund to be used to secure improvements and to build a stronger leadership pipeline within their schools.

The programme was recently launched by the Minister for Schools David Laws and such high-profile support will continue, making this a prestigious programme. Most importantly, this is your opportunity to make a real difference to an area and community of young people that need you most.

What does the programme entail?

What does the process involve?

• Rigorous selection process between October and December run collaboratively with Hay Group and ASCL
• Heads matched to school in advance of February half-term
• Mutual commitment from head and school to retain position for three years (barring exceptional circumstances)

Benefits include:

• A network of support, training and coaching
• Schools will be clustered in minimum groups of three. Each cluster will have a Mentor Head for support
• All heads will join the Headship Institute
• £50,000 Leadership Sustainability Fund to help the school improve and build a strong leadership pipeline
• A relocation package

Am I eligible?

We are looking for senior leaders ready for headship and heads looking for a new challenge:

• Commitment to improving the school system, in order to raise the achievement of children across the country, regardless of background, and provide them with equal choices and opportunities in life
• Commitment to continuous learning and being a reflective practitioner, through conscious analysis of your own behaviour and responding to feedback
• Evidence of resilience and emotional maturity including remaining motivated and focused in the face of on-going uncertainty, set-backs and challenges
• Commitment to lead and improve a challenging school for a minimum of three years
• Commitment to working collaboratively with a cluster of schools through the programme
• Right to work in the UK
• QTS or QTLS
• Minimum of five years Teaching and Learning experience in English schools*
• Evidence of having made substantial positive whole school impact in an English school (you will be expected to provide quantifiable evidence of this)
• Evidence of being ready to take up a headship post by September 2015
• Evidence of understanding of what makes Good or Outstanding teaching and the ability to give feedback to improve teaching quality
• Willingness to take up any headship vacancy offered (taking regional preferences into consideration when possible)
• Having read and agreed to the programme's terms and conditions

*If you do not have the minimum experience but wish to make a case as to why you feel you should be eligible to apply, please call us on 0800 009 4142

Please note that the closing date for this year's intake is Monday 13 October 2014 (Window 1) and Monday 17 November (Window 2).

Following this, applications for a 2016 start will open in the autumn of 2015.

For more information on the programme, or to start your registration, please click on the 'Apply now' button below. Alternatively, for an informal discussion about the programme, please contact a member of our Candidate Services team at recruitment@tflt.org.uk .