• APPLICATIONS FOR 2012 ARE NOW OPEN:  |  Please call us if you have any application queries.
  • Teaching Leaders Impact  |  GCSE passes up by 15% in our first cohort’s departments, 1.5 times as fast as their schools.
  • Teaching Leaders Impact  |  70% of the first cohort have been promoted or given extra responsibility since beginning the programme

Participant stories

Allan Williamson

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I started teaching as a Teach First participant in 2006 at the London Academy, and in September 2008 I took up the role of Assistant Subject Leader of science. In this role I had specific responsibility for pupils in KS3.I applied to Teaching Leaders in hopes of finding a supportive and challenging programme through which I could continue my professional development and advance my career. Having already established productive professional relationships in my school, I was eager to build on this foundation by developing my middle leadership skills in a complex urban environment.

During my time on the programme, Teaching Leaders provided practical materials and tools that I can use on a daily basis, in addition to intimate seminars and personalised coaching. Since our initial induction at the Residential, the programme has built upon these core aims through our seminars and coaching sessions. Although I thought the Residential might be overwhelming, it enabled me to go back to school and begin to apply what we had been taught straight away while it was still fresh in my mind.

I found working with my coach brilliant!  She understood the reality of my situation, so I never felt pressurised to be anything other than open and honest with her, which meant our professional relationship was built on trust and confidentiality.  Having a practising senior leader as a coach meant that she could expand on elements of the delivered programme to fit with my situation. 

To my surprise, our graduation ceremony was attended by two government ministers! It was reassuring and flattering for our work to be recognised and rewarded at this level. Teaching Leaders has also continued to provide opportunities for networking and development through the alumni programme.