Deputy and Assistant Headteacher Development Programme

Brief overview

Are you a newly appointed Deputy Headteacher or Assistant Headteacher eager to enhance your leadership capabilities and make a meaningful impact in your school? This comprehensive development programme is designed to support primary school leaders like you in building the confidence, knowledge, and strategic insight needed to thrive in your role.

This development programme equips primary school leaders with essential skills across six sessions. By attending all six sessions of the Deputy Headteacher and Assistant Headteacher Development Programme, delegates will:

• Develop Strategic Leadership Skills: Gain a comprehensive understanding of strategic leadership principles tailored to primary schools. Learn to create, communicate, and implement a clear vision that aligns with the school's educational mission.
• Enhance Curriculum Design and Implementation: Acquire the ability to refine and adapt the curriculum based on the latest DfE guidelines and assessment reviews. Utilize assessment data effectively to inform and improve curriculum practices.
• Support Staff Development and Wellbeing: Understand the importance of staff wellbeing and professional growth. Implement strategies to foster a positive school culture and support staff mental health.
• Promote Student Achievement and Inclusion: Learn effective strategies to close achievement gaps and enhance student performance. Develop skills to create an inclusive school environment that supports all learners.
• Build Community Engagement and Partnerships: Understand the role of community engagement in providing greater access to opportunities for pupils. Develop and maintain effective partnerships with parents and the community to enhance pupil experiences.

Previous feedback when asked what aspects of the session’s delegates found most useful:

• 'The conversations with other leaders as well as the content delivered was very useful and has given me ideas to take back to my school.'
• 'Excellent information about advocacy and Personal Development within the inspection framework but also its overall importance for a school.' 
• 'It's always incredibly useful to have time to collaborate with others.' 
• 'Looking at curriculum approaches & different school’s approaches.'
• 'Conversations, coaching opportunities with colleagues. Advice, ideas, support.'
• 'Learning the theory and then having time to put it into practice. Working with peers. Time for discussion.'

These sessions are also available to book individually:

Leadership and Vision on 2 October 2025

Curriculum and Instruction on 20 November 2025

Staff Development and Wellbeing on 22 January 2026

Assessment and Data Analysis for Empowering Middle and Subject Leaders on 12 March 2026

Student Achievement and Inclusion on 30 April 2026

Community Engagement and Pupil Opportunities on 2 July 2026