Participant stories

Jan Balon

I began teaching in 2005 on the Teach First programme, and took up the role of Head of Humanities at Gladys Aylward in September 2008.

As a new head of department, there has been pressure on me to focus strongly on ensuring that Year 11 students who have opted for Humanities GCSEs are on course to achieve their best possible results.  Being part of the Teaching Leaders programme has encouraged me to extend my focus to Year 10 students who form the target group for my Improvement Initiative. 

Attending the residential week gave me just the start I needed to the new school year.  It got me in the right frame of mind so I was focused on what I needed to do to be successful in my new role. The two days spent on ‘Managing Yourself, Leading Others’ proved particularly useful. It was the first time I’d really thought about myself as a leader and how I affect others.  I hated it at the time because it was so uncomfortable, but towards the end I realised how much I’d learnt, and consequently I approached my new role differently.

As well as the residential week and day conferences, the evening seminars have covered issues that I was anxious to explore.  Being led through the Ofsted approach to lesson observation by an Ofsted inspector has given me the confidence to carry out observations of my colleagues fairly and efficiently.  Additionally, the evening devoted to Kolb’s work has given me a method of understanding my own and others’ learning styles.  I am hoping to get the members of my team to also fill in the Inventory so that the learning can be shared and used openly between all of us. 

So far the programme has proved relevant to the issues facing me in my new role and it is helping me to develop into a reflective and effective leader. I would recommend this programme to anyone who is in a middle leadership role, as it will not only help your own personal development, but also have a direct impact on your team and pupils.