Career Progression

In Sheffield, we see headship as the start of the next phase of your career journey – not the final destination. As a local authority, we encourage schools and their governing bodies to invest in leadership and to support the ongoing professional development of their headteachers.

Furthermore, as a major city we are able to create opportunities for leaders which are not available in most other local authorities.

Accredited Masters Programme:Our Learning and Achievement Service has been able to build a partnership with Sheffield Hallam University and our local schools to create an accredited work-based learning programme for those wishing to pursue a Masters in Teaching and Learning.

The National College Local Leaders Programme: Sheffield has been a pilot city for the Local Leaders in Education (LLE) programme, creating wider career opportunities for experienced Sheffield heads who have become accredited Local Leaders. This programme was jointly developed between the National College and our Inclusion and Learning Services to meet local needs. Our Local Leaders are experienced and successful heads recruited to work outside their own school on a range of projects designed to develop leadership capacity across the city’s schools.

New models of leadership: Sheffield has developed the concept of ’Lead Headteacher’ as an alternative model for leadership within local schools and the Sheffield Inclusion and Learning Services. Lead Headteachers – all of whom are experienced practitioners – are employed by the local authority and work directly at school level to drive improvement and build sustainable leadership capacity across the school system.

Expert Provision: Sheffield has a strong partnership with the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, forming a core part of the CPD provision for staff at all levels.