Trust-wide CPD Leaders' Forum Blog

Tracy Goodyear, TWCPD Founder and Director of Teacher Development at The Mercian Trust Facilitating school improvement within Trusts presents marked leadership challenges, especially when considering the complexities and nuances of improvement at scale alongside the unique context, age and stage of an individual Trust’s journey. There is a necessity for leaders to accurately and flexibly operate within a rapidly shifting landscape, acknowledging that “the demand for radical and large-scale improvement is too fierce [and] too pressing” (Levin, 2010; Hallinger, 2010).  This paper will articulate three key challenges behind the leadership of school improvement activities within Trusts and the consequences for development through these challenges. I will use this to demonstrate how the variance in MAT structures presents an imperative for Trust leaders which requires them to accurately and flexibly operate within a rapidly shifting landscape.   The leadership of school improv...

T his September, I embarked on a new adventure: becoming the Director of a small MAT Learning Institute. As an emerging system, school trusts offer a unique leadership experience, the role might be uncharted as Multi-academy trusts grow. This blog post reflects on my journey so far, sharing insights and advice for anyone considering a similar move. Stepping into the Unknown One of the biggest surprises? The absence of a school bell. After 20+ years in schools, this newfound freedom initially led to an overbooked calendar. The shift from the structured school environment, with lessons, duties, and immediate pupil feedback, demanded a tighter grip on time management. It's a work in progress, but I'm learning to create a schedule that works for me. But also a belief that what I am doing is right. Another significant change is the focus on long-term impact. As a teacher, you get instant gratification from student responses. In this leadership role, the impact is less immediate and ...