Portal Connect | Schools & Education | May 2024

Connect

IN THIS ISSUE:

• PORTAL PROMISE EVENT

• THE LEADERSHIP LANDSCAPE

• QUALITY & IMPACT FINDINGS

• LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

EDUCATION EDITION | MAY 2024

Croeso i Portal Connect...

Welcome to the Education edition of Portal Connect!

For this issue, we reflect on the challenges and rewards of the leadership journey and essential development with Mark Powell, of Fairfields Education Consultants.

We're also shining a light on our ILM Leadership & Management qualification pathways, sharing valuable feedback from previous learners.

Visit us at The National Education Show!

The National Education Show is the leading education event in Wales providing opportunities and new ways to improve and raise standards, enhance learning experiences and support learners.

A must-attend event for everyone working in education including early years, primary, secondary, HE and FE. An ideal way to optimise your CPD training and explore products and services through an action packed day.

Additionally, be sure to clear your calendar for June the 27th and join us, our guest speakers and network with colleagues at our FREE Portal Promise event!

So, take five minutes out of your day, grab a cuppa and join us as we connect with our colleagues, partners and organisations across the education sector.

Save the Date! Portal Promise Event

Maximising Professional Learning

Provision: Sharing Best Practice

Join us, our guest speakers and network with colleagues to consider the Professional Learning journey from entitlement to provision, sharing best practice, impact and how we can build capacity and sustain high quality Professional Learning for all… with delicious refreshments!

EVENT INFORMATION

WHEN: June 27th

WHERE: Ocean Park House

Cardiff, CF24 5ET

GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Emma Laidlaw

Assistant Headteacher, St Cyres School

Ryan Hall-Richards

Partnership Resource Manager, Gowerton School

Kathleen Lawlor Headteacher, Gowerton School

Lynsey Wangiel Headteacher, Derwendeg Primary School

Melanie Davies Service & Partner Development Officer

Sport Wales | Chwaraeon Cymru

Citbag: Skills for an active life

Citbag is a Sport Wales hub, housing hundreds of FREE resources that can provide teachers, coaches and leaders with the tools and materials to help children develop their fundamental movement skills, motivation and confidence to embrace a lifelong enjoyment of physical activity and sport.

The resources align with the Curriculum for Wales, Health and Well-being area of Learning Experience by developing pupils’ skills, knowledge and understanding that physical health and well-being has lifelong benefits.

The Leadership Landscape

Mark Powell, of Fairfields Education Consultants, reflects on the challenges and rewards of the Leadership journey and essential development. He encourages us to be proactive to overcome potential barriers and reap the rewards.

Those of us who have worked in the education system in Wales have, in recent years, been increasingly aware of accelerating challenges in recruitment and retention of staff at all levels. This anecdotal realisation is now being borne out by data and research. This, in Wales, is particularly evident in ITT recruitment targets not being met and in challenges that schools face in attracting appropriate fields of candidates for headships. There is much to be said of the former but I am going to focus on the latter and, as a recently retired headteacher, I hope that I can provide some perspective and insight on the issues which are emerging.

The National Academy of Education Leadership has produced a report on the Recruitment and Retention of Senior School Leaders in Wales which contains valuable data and observations on the issue which, I think, can be summed up by the following:

Applications for headship are down over time and continue to decline.

The picture is particularly tough in rural areas and in Welsh-medium schools.

The number of suitable candidates is also down.

The headteacher demography in Wales is ageing thus indicating potential for higher turnover imminently.

There is no question that headship is challenging. It brings with it high levels of responsibility and accountability and requires an extremely broad skill set. A former headteacher colleague of mine referred to the ‘extended school family’ of people who could be affected by a headteacher’s decision. This could potentially extend into the tens of thousands. Covid lockdown, an unsympathetic schools inspectorate, the conveyor belt of reform, budgets, pupil behaviour, parental attitudes and other factors will be barriers to excellent deputies (and others) aspiring to headship.

What I would like to emphasise, though, is that the rewards and joys of school leadership can easily be lost when considering the above. There can be few other jobs where your decisionmaking helps create an environment where the following happens:

the buzz of nervous excitement on the first day of the Autumn Term

the joy of the curtain call on the last night of the school show

the sound of hundreds of young people cheering on their friends on sports day the capacity to congratulate (or reassure) teenagers on results days developing young colleagues into the professionalism that gives them pride in their work

the chance to make a whole community proud of its school I could go on.

In my view, it is incumbent upon middle tier organisations and Welsh Government to adopt a creative and multi-dimensional approach to redressing the balance between the negative and positive experiences and perceptions that currently exist.

Identify the potential headteachers currently in the system (not necessarily senior leaders); work with them in developing their senior leadership skills and in demystifying the managerial aspects of school leadership.

Build a team of mentors and coaches to work with aspiring headteachers and pair them with current headteachers.

Make an unequivocal commitment to providing a structured support programme for headteachers who are new to post and a commitment to providing robust wellbeing support for headteachers throughout their careers.

Build a programme for headteachers nearing the end of their career (or immediately after retirement) in order to access their knowledge and experience and to feed that back into the system.

It is a tough landscape but we can prepare for gaps we identify in leadership and use effective support and professional development to upskill our leaders of today and tomorrow.

Furthermore, Welsh Government and the middle tier need to give serious consideration to reducing the unnecessary pressures upon headteachers. This should begin with proper funding of schools. It is a tough landscape but we can prepare for gaps we identify in leadership and use effective support and professional development to upskill our leaders of today and tomorrow.

There were days when I felt huge pressures as a headteacher but I never once wished that I wasn’t a headteacher. The rewards, ultimately, outweighed the negative elements even in the darker moments and I look back on that career with some pride and great warmth.

Mark Powell, offers bespoke consultancy and training in school leadership, curriculum development and pedagogy mainly for the secondary sector.

Get in touch!

Mark Powell Fairfields Education Consultants

Quality & Impact Findings

Produced for the National Academy for Educational Leadership (NAEL)

Quality assurance and impact activities are firmly embedded within Portal’s quality cycle, through the annual self-evaluation (SER) and Quality Development Plan (QDP) activities.

This process allows continuous review of activities against standards, using internal and external benchmarks to maintain high quality, effective and impactive leadership courses.

This year’s evaluation has identified areas of strength, some of which have been maintained since last year, and also some areas for development.

Take a look at some of our feedback and data:

Quantitative data:

of learners felt more confident in managing and facilitating change of learners felt that they were able to think at a more strategic level of learners felt more confident in directing and leading in their area of responsibility

For learners who recorded promotion or additional responsibilities:

Enabled improvement through collaboration with other departments and/or outside agencies/ organisations Were given responsibilities for driving change as a result of research they undertook as part of the programme

"I am able to implement the things that I've learnt on the course in my day-to-day work. The workplace will benefit as I am more aware of the strategic running of the workplace. My confidence has increased so I am able to lead a more efficient department.”

I really am thankful to be given the opportunity to take part in this course and expand my knowledge. Having been a Middle Manager - Head of Department for many years I wanted and needed a challenge to really take a fresh look at my professional development.

“It will strengthen my leadership of two departments in the school, and help me plan, prioritise and review the work of my department, and ensure links between our departmental plan and the school progression plan.”

“I am now much more competent in leading and managing in my school. I have been able to implement plans and projects. I now feel that I am able to do this as my role to help support my school and make improvements for the benefit of staff and children.”

Our NAEL endorsement letter recognised our Level 4 & 5 Leadership & Management programme, stating it...

Contains work-based learning components that address real issues and improve outcomes showing participants contributing back to the system.

“I have grown greatly in confidence. I now feel more confident approaching members of staff and the SLT about any concerns or ideas. I am more at ease when planning and delivering projects and I enjoy coming up with new ideas.”

Leadership & Management with Portal

We are thrilled to share some recent feedback from the education sector that have engaged with our training programmes over the years.

We would also like to extend a warm Portal welcome to all of our new customers.

Embarking on Portal's Leadership & Management qualification, I envisioned a valuable Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunity that would help enhance my leadership skills.

Navigating through the qualification, I found the overall learning experience with Portal to be very supportive. The workload was well-structured and manageable, and the blend of face-to-face and online meetings with assessors worked particularly well for me.

Key highlights of the training included exploring different leadership styles and actively engaging in the process of implementing change –experiences that have significantly enriched my leadership capabilities.

Despite the challenges of balancing school responsibilities with the demands of a full-time job, I successfully overcame hurdles by setting smaller, more manageable goals within the qualification.

Emma Laidlaw St Cyres School

You have recognised the value of investing in the development of your workforce and we are absolutely delighted that you have chosen us to work alongside you.

I now effectively apply the knowledge and skills gained in managing professional learning, mentoring and coaching, and overseeing learning areas in my current role.

I am able to support colleagues currently undertaking the qualification and consider in more detail how to embed change into existing practices.

Daniel completed his Level 3 Diploma in Delivering Physical Activity & Sport within a School Environment (PASSE) with Portal at the end of last year.

From the very beginning, Daniel set clear expectations for this qualification, establishing

ILM Level 7 Leadership & Management qualifications

Develop your strategic skills, make informed decisions and enhance your personal brand.

Who are these qualifications for?

Our Level 7 qualifications are designed to enable existing and aspiring senior managers, who recognise they must satisfy various stakeholders and want to invest in their own personal brand, to create organisational and personal impact through high level engagement with practice,

My learning journey was a holistic and supportive one, that truly contributed to my professional growth.

both personal and professional targets. His goal was to deepen his understanding of his role and responsibilities and improve his confidence in cluster collaboration and event organisation.

Reflecting on his learning journey, Daniel spoke of his instant connection with Portal’s assessors, who consistently checked on his progress and wellbeing. He credits their feedback and support, combined with the knowledge and skills gained, for the notable improvement in his confidence.

innovation and critical thinking, underpinned by practical and applied research and the application of theoretical frameworks.

QUALIFICATION DISCOUNT

10% discount if you sign up to a Level 7 during the month of May or April.

Quote discount code MAYNL24 when enquiring, or contact Jo to redeem your discount.

Contact: Jo Smith | 07513 717705 joanne.smith@portaltraining.co.uk

Daniel Murdoch Oldcastle Primary School, Bridgend

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