Connect
IN THIS ISSUE:
• PORTAL PROMISE EVENT
• CROESO I DR JOANNA HOLMES
• PARTNERSHIP AWARDS
• ILM LEVEL 7
EDUCATION EDITION | DECEMBER 2024
Croeso i Portal Connect...
Welcome to the Education edition of Portal Connect!
In this issue, we reflect on our recent Portal Promise event, sharing highlights and from some of our guest speakers.
We’re also delighted to welcome Dr. Joanna Holmes, who offers insights into her leadership
NAEL Event
Leadership Unlocked:
Sir Alasdair Macdonald CBE
Sir Alasdair Macdonald CBE will be delivering the National Academy for Educational Leadership’s next Leadership Unlocked webinar.
After graduating from Aberdeen University Alasdair worked in Malawi, in a range of roles in London schools and for four years in Papua New Guinea. He was Headteacher of Morpeth School in Tower Hamlets for 21 years up to August 2013. During that period, attainment at the school rose significantly and OFSTED inspections in 2007 and 2013 rated Morpeth as Outstanding. The school was featured as one of the 12 schools in the OFSTED publication "Achieving against the odds".
He was a member of the Department of Education's Headteacher Reference Group and was asked by the Secretary of State to lead a national review of Personal, Social and Health Education. In 2003 he was awarded the CBE and in 2009 he was knighted for services to education.
journey, educational research, and perspectives on leadership development.
On page 8, don’t miss the spotlight on our NEW ILM Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Leadership & Management.
So, take five, grab a cuppa, and join us as we connect with colleagues, partners, and organisations across the education sector.
Alasdair is currently Chair of London East Alternative Provision, a board member of Tower Hamlets Education Partnership and Chair of the New Visions for Education Group.
Leadership Unlocked is a series of professional learning webinars, that explore leadership in Wales and internationally. The webinars are designed for those in senior leadership roles from schools, the youth work sector and Post Compulsory Education & Training (PCET) sector and aims to support their thinking and practice.
This webinar delivers high quality and inspirational professional learning that is engaging, motivational and inclusive. The webinar will include an opportunity to discuss and share ideas in breakout rooms with leaders from across Wales.
WHEN: Thursday 13 February, 2025 TIME: 9:30 - 11:30am FREE, online event - registration essential!
Portal Promise Highlights...
October brought us together in Cardiff for our latest Portal Promise Event, focusing on sharing best practices in professional learning.
This schools-focused event offered a fantastic opportunity to exchange insights, network, and explore ways to foster bespoke, sustainable staff development and growth.
We’re grateful to our guest speakers: Emma Laidlaw (St Cyres School), Lynsey Wangiel (Derwendeg Primary), and Melanie Davies (Sport Wales), who highlighted the invaluable Citbag resource for schools.
We agreed that one size does not fit all when it comes to Professional Learning but there were common aspects that we celebrated.
Missed our event?
Catch our guest speaker talks over on our YouTube Channel...
If you would like further information on our Portal Promise events, or acces to our guest speaker slides, contact our Schools Relations Lead, Jo Smith: joanne.smith@portaltraining.co.uk
Maximising Professional Learning Provision, with Emma Laidlaw, Assistant Head, St Cyres School
Maximising Professional Learning Provision, with Lynsey Wangiel, Headteacher, Derwendeg Primary School
Croeso Cynnes i Dr Joanna Holmes!
Portal Training is delighted to welcome Dr Joanna Holmes to our fold as Professional Development Consultant. In this edition of Portal Connect, we interview Joanna about her leadership journey, her educational research and thoughts for leadership development.
Tell us about your leadership journey from Scotland to Wales.
From a career in engineering, I retrained as a maths teacher in Scotland in the mid 90’s and due to my partner’s new job, found myself in South Wales just after qualifying. My first teaching post was at Monmouth Comprehensive School. I loved being a teacher and found myself taking on wider responsibilities early on in my career. I gained lots of experience leading in curricular and pastoral areas and achieved a number of promotions. I worked in Wales and England throughout my career, eventually landing back in Scotland as headteacher.
As a headteacher I developed a strong interest in Project Management and studied the Prince2 course. A secondment opportunity came up at the University of Strathclyde to lead a project to support the implementation of the recommendations made by the Donaldson report regarding ITE (Donaldson, 2011). I was fortunate to be appointed, and I worked across Glasgow and Strathclyde University and nine Local Education Authorities, implementing the recommendations. After completing the project, I began supporting and then leading our Headship qualifications and Master's programmes in Educational Leadership. During this period, I also completed my own Master's Degree and my Professional Doctorate. I went to Strathclyde for a year and ended up staying for ten.
You have worked in varied roles supporting and inspiring teacher practitioners and leaders. What have you learned about leadership preparation?
In practice, I always supported people with the view that each was an individual and would have individual needs. Latterly my research focused on the development of a Leadership Identity and the emotions involved in transitioning to leadership roles. It showed that personalisation is key (this is reported in much of the research on leadership preparation). It also posited that there is benefit from celebrating and encouraging diversity within the leadership population and mandated curricula and structures that demand one narrow form of leadership should be avoided, in order to allow creativity and authenticity within leaders.
Both my research in Teacher Leadership and Identity identified the need for a strong supportive culture within an organisation. Although formal avenues of leadership preparation are important, it is the impact of the working environment and the formal leaders on the developing leader that can have the most positive impact. People really do need fertile ground in order to grow!
What can we learn from professional enquiry to strengthen leadership development here in Wales?
“Leadership at all levels” was a major focus in Scottish Education post-Donaldson. Interpreting what this looked like for all teachers was initially a challenge. My own research into Teacher Leadership showed that professional enquiry is a key strategy to teachers leading their own learning and development, as well as supporting the development of others. Scotland has this formally written into their teaching standards, which I believe is a positive and supportive approach to developing teachers as leaders.
There is always lots of new and promising work in the field of educational research, however much of it takes interpretation and a great deal of re-imaging in terms of application to a specific educational context; this can be hugely time consuming. Professional enquiry that is completed in a specific context can be much more impactful and the potential for sharing and learning much more immediate.
What can we take from your research findings that resonates now that you are working with ILM programmes?
The real strength of the ILM programmes is the personalisation aspects. The courses aren’t designed to show you “this is the way to lead” but instead there is a great deal of self-reflection (key in my research to exploring Leadership
The pressures on leaders can be immense, it can look and feel like an impossible task. I truly believe that if we can empower everyone in a system then that pressure will be lessened.
Dr
Joanna Holmes Professional Development Consultant, Portal
Identity development). Learners are encouraged to consider their own value system and how that influences how they lead and hence how that operates within their specific context. This has the potential to be much more powerful in supporting their leadership development than a narrow curriculum.
What is your hope for future leaders?
The pressures on leaders can be immense, it can look and feel like an impossible task. I truly believe that if we can empower everyone in a system then that pressure will be lessened. I want leaders to truly enjoy their jobs and feel that most of all they can be themselves and have a life too!
Portal Training is delighted to welcome Joanna to our team to further develop leaders. Our programmes allow for individual growth and ILM accreditation in a bespoke and supportive approach.
If you are interested in developing your leadership skills, please contact Joanne Smith, Schools Relations Lead to discuss your next steps.
Donaldson, G. (2011). Teaching Scotland’s future: Report of a review of teacher education in Scotland. The Scottish Government. https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/2178/7/0110852_Redacted.pdf
Portal Partnership Awards
Celebrating 7+ Years of collaboration and achievements
This term, the Relations Team has been on the move, visiting schools we’ve proudly partnered with for over 7 years. It’s been a joy to recognise and celebrate these collaborations and reflect on the impact we’ve made together, in supporting and developing professional learning and development.
Bottom,
Connah's Quay High School
A heartfelt thank you to Portal Training for honoring us with this award celebrating our 7-year collaboration!
Your partnership has empowered us to provide fully funded Diplomas in Leadership and Management to our diverse team, from teachers to admin and support staff.
Together, we’re investing in our people and enhancing our community. Here’s to many more years of growth and success!
Page 6, top left to right:
Ysgol Caer Elen
Pencoedtre High School
Willows High School
left to right: St Cyres School
Kings Monkton School
Page 7, top to bottom:
Pencoed Comprehensive School
Radyr Comprehensive School St Julians School
Shaping Strategic Senior Leaders
If you're on our mailing list, or follow our social channels, you may have heard about our NEW ILM Level 7 qualification. If you've missed it, here's a recap...
ILM Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Leadership & Management
Our ILM Level 7 Certificate is designed for senior and strategic leaders ready to take their career to the next level.
Is this qualification for you?
If you’re looking to enhance your strategic leadership capability, drive organisational outcomes, and lead meaningful change, this programme is the ideal fit.
What you’ll learn
The programme is built around two key units:
UNIT 1. Developing Strategic Leadership and Management Capability
Gain insights into practices that foster developmental leadership while embedding diversity, equity, and inclusivity.
With a focus on future-proofing your organisation by developing an innovative culture and implementing strategic, viable solutions, this qualification offers a unique opportunity to advance your personal strategic leadership and management growth.
UNIT 2. Supporting a Culture of Innovation through Change +
Cultivate a growth mindset and learn the principles of leading organisational change through innovation and collaboration.
Benefits to you and your organisation
For
Employees
• Enhance strategic skills to lead confidently at senior level
• Enhance your leadership and management skills through work-based projects
• Meet personal growth goals and organisational needs
• Develop a growth mindset for continuous innovation and change
Programme structure
Delivery: Five group workshops and three 1-to-1 tutorials
Schedule: Monthly sessions held on Microsoft Teams, from 9:30am - 1:00pm
Duration: 9 months
For
Employers
• Build a stronger, more agile leadership team
• Equip leaders to deliver sustainable outcomes and navigate change effectively
• Equip senior leaders with tools for evaluating and enhancing their own performance
• Demonstrate ROI as leaders develop skills directly relevant to current business challenges
Group Size: Up to 6 participants
Assessment: Written assignments supported by workplace evidence and research
Cost: £1,400 +VAT
READY TO TRANSFORM YOUR LEADERSHIP?
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST TODAY!
To find out more or to register your interest, please get in touch: email: info@portaltraining.co.uk tel: 029 2240 2597
Don’t miss the opportunity to elevate your leadership with our ILM Level 7!
Daniel Murdoch Oldcastle Primary School,
Diolch/Thank you...
We hope you enjoyed the latest edition of Portal Connect.
If you would like to contribute to the next edition or have a community club, team or event to promote, please get in touch!
CONTACT:
Helen Hallam
Marketing, Design and Communications Manager 07711 596558
helen.hallam@portaltraining.co.uk
If you would like further information regarding any of our Education sector qualifications, please contact:
Joanne Smith
Schools Relations Lead 07513717705
joanne.smith@portaltraining.co.uk