How to become an LLE
The goal of the LLE is to increase the leadership capacity of other schools to help raise standards. If you are a headteacher and want to work with other schools to improve pupil outcomes, you could consider applying to be a Local Leader of Education. In addition to leading your own school, you would have a coaching and mentoring role and provide valuable peer support to a leader of another school. This is one part of the government’s plan to give schools a central role in developing a self-improving and sustainable school-led system.
In this section
Who can apply?
To be eligible to be a Local Leader of Education, you must:
• Have at least 3 years of experience as a serving headteacher
• Expect to remain at your current school for at least two years after being selected
• Have accountability for one or more school(s) that meet the criteria below
• Have the support of your school’s governing body and local authority, or a senior educational professional
• Have the senior leadership capacity to ensure the smooth running of your school in your absence
• Demonstrate that you have sufficient experience of providing support as a coach or mentor to another headteacher or senior leader at a school other than your own
• Commit to time expectations
Criteria for your school
• For you to be considered as a Local Leader of Education, your current school must:
• Have an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding
• Show consistently high levels of pupil performance or continued improvement over the last 3 years
• Be above current minimum standards set by the government
Schools that are a priority for support are those where:
• Attainment is below the minimum standards
• The school is considered to be vulnerable
• A new, first-time headteacher has been appointed
However schools that are striving for excellence can also benefit from peer review and support provided by an LLE.
Support must be focused on:
• School improvement
• The needs of the receiving school
Time commitment
Individual placements can vary by intensity and length, but there must be an agreed end point, negotiated between the LLE, the receiving school, and the ESLCN. Typically, a placement would not be expected to take up more than six days over an academic year. You can transfer some of the contracted days to other members of staff in your own school. For example, your deputy headteacher could be asked to work with the receiving school’s deputy.
Funding
Costs for the support of a Local Leader of Education are funded by whoever is asking for your time (e.g. a school, the local authority, or the Diocese). A proportion of the fees charged will be paid to your school. It is up to your school’s governing body to decide whether you are rewarded financially for your work.
Benefits of becoming an LLE
This is a great opportunity to share the expertise that you have obtained throughout your career for the benefits of schools across East Sussex. In addition to extending your coaching and leadership skills to leaders outside your own setting, many LLEs find the experience extremely rewarding. You will develop ties with other schools in your area and may find that you bring useful learning back to your own school.
Application and interview process
Successful applicants will be invited to an assessment interview where you will meet colleagues from within the East Sussex Learning Collaborative Network.
If you are ready to apply, you can find the application form here.
Dates and rounds of assessments
Our next round of SLE assessments will take place on Friday 29 April 2022. Each assessment interview takes 45 to 60 minutes, including an additional 15-30 minutes for a group discussion task. The deadline to apply is Friday 22 April 2022.
Assessment interviews will take place by video call.