The University of Oxford is spearheading an innovative joint initiative, to provide leadership development for staff and governors at primary schools in the City of Oxford. Experts from the University’s Department of Education have joined forces with Oxford Brookes University’s School of Education and a consortium of local schools (known as ‘Education Excellence in Oxford’) in an effort to improve numeracy and literacy levels in the city’s primary schools.
The programme is being taken up by 11 schools that have been identified by Oxford City Council. Called the ‘Leadership for Learning programme’, it will run in two year-long cycles with up to 40 people participating each year from the 11 schools.
The Leadership for Learning programme is being funded by Oxford City Council. Staff and governors from the participating schools will receive up to 12 training days a year with leading national and international researchers and practitioners.
Programme Director Ian Menter, professor of teacher education and director of professional programmes at Oxford University, says: ‘Oxford University’s Department of Education and Oxford Brookes University School of Education are recognised UK leaders in teacher education. Through this partnership and working with the Oxfordshire school consortium, we will be able to support primary education in the city of Oxford.’
On completion of the programme, each participant will be eligible to receive accreditation towards a Master’s degree (the equivalent of a ‘module’ – 20 credit points out of 180 points, which is the total requirement for a Master’s degree).