3 December 2010
Head teachers have called for inspections to better recognise the quality of school leadership, after regulator Ofsted identified a link between well-led schools and the quality of their teaching.
The watchdog’s study of 24 National Support Schools, Developing leadership, found that head teachers in these outstanding schools considered their core business to be improving teaching and learning. They also valued their staff, invested in them and developed them in a sustained effort to improve teaching and learning.
National Support Schools are selected by the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services on the basis of performance. The study also looked at how these schools supported others facing ‘challenging circumstances’, under the college’s National Leaders in Education programme.
Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: 'Our members know only too well the importance of leadership development and peer support, so it's great to see Ofsted giving credit where credit is due.
‘The Local and National Leaders in Education scheme is an excellent way of spreading good practice whilst providing school leaders in challenging circumstances with constructive and practical professional support.’
But, he said, school leaders all over the country were developing staff and building strong local networks.
‘What we need now are improved inspection and accountability systems so that more of those leaders get the recognition they deserve.’
Chief inspector of education Christine Gilbert said: ‘The two greatest influences on a school’s success are the quality of its leadership and management and the quality of its teaching.
‘Thriving schools demonstrate high quality in both areas and this makes a huge difference to the achievement of their pupils.’
