After a series of successful launch events, and following distribution to LEA Governor Services Departments and Diocesan Boards the Leading together training material is now available online. This training programme is the second of the two (the first being Taking the chair), which form the National Development Project for Chairs to Governing Bodies and Headteachers. 

Leading together is a school-based development programme designed to explore and improve the team-work of the governing body, the head teacher and the school-leadership team to better achieve a school-improvement priority. The programme consists of three facilitated meetings in the school spread over a period of about nine months. For this reason the training programme is not suitable for independent study.

The development of a robust partnership between the governing body and the school-leadership team poses a challenge for many schools and is an area where they can benefit from outside support.  Schools opting to engage in Leading together may do so for a variety of reasons, such as the opportunity for reviewing working relationships afforded by the arrival of a new chair or head teacher.  Schools may also be encouraged to engage in the programme because the implementation of shared leadership is a cause for concern.

As well as being available from the Online Publications for schools website, copies of the facilitator toolkit can be obtained from the DfES School Governance Team by telephoning 01325 391287 or by emailing [email protected].

There is no copyright on these materials, as long as they are used for the purposes of governor training and the DfES is acknowledge for funding, and the Eastern Leadership Centre Partnership for writing the materials.