My First Year in Subject Leadership

We are currently not running this course but you can book one of our consultants to run this (in your setting, at your choice of venue or online). Please get in touch with our consultancy department for more details consultancy@focus-education.co.uk 

A series of six 1 hour after school sessions over the course of 2024-25 (once per half term).

Becoming a subject leader for the first time (or being asked to change your leadership to a different subject area) can be daunting, but being given responsibility for a specific subject can also be an exciting and fulfilling challenge.

This series of sessions is aimed at teachers who are just beginning on a journey of subject leadership. This might be your first area of leadership, or perhaps an area that you haven’t led before. Either way, we will be exploring the fundamentals of subject leadership that can be applied to any subject.

Each session will focus on a specific aspect of subject leadership, and this is timetabled in the order that follows to best support you with your area of responsibility across the school year:

Session 1 – Action planning

Session 2 – Monitoring and feedback – teaching/books

Session 3 – Mid-year review

Session 4 – Monitoring and feedback – pupil voice

Session 5 – Data and assessment

Session 6 – Evaluation and position statements

Each session will include some guidance on how best to approach the aspect being discussed and an opportunity to broaden the discussion amongst the group. It will look at different challenges faced within individual settings and a chance to network and share things that have worked well. By completing this series of sessions, you will not only be learning from the facilitator, Alex, but you will be working alongside and supporting each other as you go.

Standards for Teachers’ Professional Development Statement

This course is underpinned by rigorous scholarship and supported by continual development and support. It meets the DfE’s Standards for Teachers’ Professional Development in the following ways:

• This professional development course has a focus on improving and evaluating pupil outcomes;

• It is underpinned by robust evidence and expertise, and is clear on intended outcomes and objectives;

• There is an expectation of collaboration and there will be expert challenge;

• The course is part of a CPD programme designed to equip staff with the knowledge and skills required to effectively implement within their school, and sustain improvements over time.