Leaders can improve learning

Despite competing priorities, leaders need to focus on creating a culture in which teaching and learning are truly a priority, according to the think piece - Leading Learning in Further Education - by the 157 Group and CfBT Education Trust (May 2011).

The effective leadership of learning appears to involve four areas of practice:

- Investing time and resources to promote the professional development of staff.

- Having a close involvement in the management of the teaching programme.

- Setting clear directions for the organisation, including the centrality of teaching and learning.

- Establishing a culture that respects the professionalism of teachers and empowers them to innovate.

The report also recommends the use of supported experiments - an action learning approach in which staff are involved in identifying areas that need to be improved and investigate new approaches for making these improvements.

Source: http://www.cfbt.com/evidenceforeducation/pdf/2157G-082-LeadingLearning.pdf