SLEs - Who Can Apply?
What an SLE does
Specialist Leaders of Education (SLE) focus on developing the capacity and capability of other leaders to provide them with the skills to lead their own teams and improve practice in their own schools. This can be done through one-to-one or group support through a variety of activities, including coaching, joint action planning, facilitating and training.
Who can apply?
To become a specialist leader of education, you need to have been in a leadership role below the headteacher for at least 2 years. Your headteacher will be asked to confirm that you are in an appropriate role. Higher level teaching assistants are not eligible to apply.
You can be from any type or phase of school.
You do not need to be in an outstanding school or a school that is part of a teaching school alliance, as long as your school has the capacity to release you to work in other schools. You must have at least one specialism from our areas of expertise, which are based on the 4 areas of focus in the Ofsted Inspection Framework (September 2018)
Leadership and management
Academies and academy transition; assessment; leadership of continuing professional development; school business management and financial management; leadership of curriculum
Pupil achievement
Art; closing the gap; drama; design and technology; early years; English; geography; history; information and communication technology; maths; modern foreign languages; music; phonics; physical education; personal, social and health education; religious education; science; special educational needs; support for the most able pupils, citizenship.
Quality of teaching, learning and assessment
Initial teacher training and newly qualified teacher development
Personal development, behaviour and welfare
Behaviour and discipline; attendance
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying to become an SLE please contact the Swan Teaching School Alliance or telephone 01327 350284.
To be successful in your application, you should have:
- a successful track record of working effectively within your own school and/or across a group of schools, or working with a range of leaders within a single school
- evidence of successfully using coaching and/or facilitation skills to bring about sustainable improvements
- excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- an understanding of what constitutes ‘outstanding’ in your field of expertise and the ability and confidence to communicate this
- an understanding of how your specialism and skills can contribute to wider school improvement goals
- an analytical approach in identifying and prioritising needs
- the ability to set and establish new and innovative working practices
- the ability to grow leadership capacity in others
You can also provide supporting evidence gained from completing leadership development opportunities such as:
- the National Professional Qualifications
- the SSAT lead practitioner accreditation
There is no cost to apply. Successful applicants will be entitled to some training at no cost to their school. However, the school will have to pay for associated travel or supply cover.