1. SLE Information

2. Background
Sherburn, Tadcaster & Rural Alliance (STAR) is a growing Teaching School Alliance designated by the DFE in February 2016.
STAR Teaching School Alliance currently consists of
15 strategic primary school partners;
2 strategic secondary school partners; &
7 associate primary school members

3. STAR Teaching School Alliance
Vision & Purpose:
to build effective Partnerships, secure Entitlement and demonstrate considerable Impact. By doing this we will ensure the best possible education and outcomes for all children aged 0-19 across our area.

4. STAR Teaching School Alliance
Aims:
Collaborative planning for school improvement, including school-to- school support.
Professional development of all staff and governors.
Sharing, analysing and responding to data and issues raised.
Commissioning services and securing best value for money.
Frameworks to ensure quality, shared values and accountability.

5. STAR Teaching School Alliance
SLEs play a key role in helping deliver on our vision and are integral to achieving most of our aims.
SLEs will continue to be employed as teachers by their own school but occasionally will be deployed on support work by the Alliance.
We currently have 3 secondary SLEs & 5 primary SLEs available for deployment, with an anticipated need for several more…

6. What is an SLE?
Outstanding middle and senior leaders who have the skills to support individuals or teams in similar positions in other schools. They understand what outstanding leadership practice in their area of expertise looks like and are skilled in helping other leaders to achieve it in their own context.
SLEs act as 'system leaders', supporting individual leaders and teams in other schools by using a high level coaching or facilitation approach that draws on their knowledge and expertise in their specialist area.

7. What is an SLE (cont)?
This may involve a wide variety of support approaches, including diagnostic models, and one-to-one or facilitated group support. Regardless of the type of support model delivered, the ultimate aim of SLEs is to contribute significantly to improving the outcomes for children through developing the capacity of peer leaders in other schools.
SLEs support the high quality professional development of leaders and may also potentially play a key role in the future development of school-to-school support, by identifying outstanding future leaders.

8. What is an SLE (cont)?
Specialist Leader of Education is a nationally recognised designation and it is the responsibility of National Teaching Schools to accredit people to ensure consistency in quality.
The role lasts for 4 years, at which time there’ll be a review
There is no minimum or maximum time commitment, you and your school will need to think carefully about capacity and negotiate your availability for deployments together with the Alliance. There is however, an expectation that SLEs will be available for at least some deployments during their term.

9. What are we looking for?
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.

10. What are we looking for (cont.)?
An understanding of how your specialism and skills can contribute to wider school improvement goals.
An analytical approach in identifying and prioritising need.
The ability to set and establish new and innovative working practices.
The ability to grow leadership capacity in others.

11. Why become an SLE? Professional development
Step into leadership and management
Another route to progression
Opportunity to work in different settings
Work collaboratively with other schools
Share good practice – SLEs also bring back ideas form the schools they support
Access to quality training

12. What will I be asked to do?
Supporting colleagues in your area of expertise
Coaching and mentoring
Supporting areas of under performance
Delivering training
Involvement in Initial teacher training
Share best practices – tailored to the school’s need
Complete impact reports

13. Next Steps (1)
Applications – to be submitted electronically (including HT reference) to by close of day 4th November at the latest.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to Assessment Session by 7th November 2017 – likely to be a panel interview and presentation but will be confirmed at time of invite.
Aim for Assessment Session to be held w/c 12th November, panel will include Headteacher from another teaching school, an NLE or local leader of education (LLE) external to STAR Alliance.

14. Next Steps (2)
STAR Alliance provide designation recommendations to NCTL for validation
STAR will notify applicants of designation outcomes within 5 working days of confirmation from NCTL (aim is by end of November)
Core training – within one month of designation
Deployment – expectation is that SLEs will have initial deployment with 3 months of designation (subject to demand)

15. Questions
Application Form available at: to-be-a-specialist-leader-of-education-for-the-star-alliance/