The Emerging Lighthouse Leadership Programme (ELLP)

ELLP is based on evidence-informed research from a 2024 master’s dissertation in Education and uniquely addresses a historic national gap in teacher training. Over the course of eight two-hour sessions, participants learn and apply a range of theories designed to develop five core leadership skills and principles. These sessions are designed to equip teachers with the skills needed to effectively lead and support their colleagues, whilst fostering a collaborative and motivated team environment. The programme is underpinned by the Education Endowment Foundation’s mechanisms for effective professional development for teachers and includes significant contributions from external experts from the world of television, close protection and investment. ELLP not only enhances pupil outcomes but also strengthens the overall effectiveness, well-being and cohesion of the teams being led in schools, whilst impacting positively on teacher recruitment and retention.

School-based mentors:

For participants joining the programme, it is essential that they have a senior member of staff to support them as a school-based mentor. This leader will act as a role model and provide personalised coaching support, helping participants apply the leadership skills that are taught throughout the programme within each individual school setting. By meeting with mentors after each training session, participants benefit from contextualised opportunities to explore each leadership skill, ultimately strengthening the overall effectiveness of the program. The role of the mentor is instrumental to the success of the 6th and 7th school sessions. Mentorship should have minimal impact on the mentors' workload whilst offering valuable CPD by providing insights into effectively supporting participants within their unique school environments. Mentors can coach more than one participant. 

Structure of the programme:

Session 1-Communication-How to take people with you as you lead.

Session 2- Time Management-how to actively invest and manage time and workload.

Session 3- Emotional Intelligence part 1-Self-awareness: the cornerstone of emotional intelligence.

Session 4- Emotional Intelligence part 2- the importance of empathy in leadership.

Session 5-Problem solving and resilience-simplifying the process to find a solution.

In session 6, the participant visits lessons relevant to their leadership role with the school-based mentor and collaborates with them to write feedback. Participants then observe the school-based mentor delivering the feedback, taking note of the 5 leadership skills being applied in action.

In session 7, the roles are reversed. Whilst the participant observes the lesson alongside the school-based mentor, they independently form feedback and then are observed delivering it to colleagues, carefully applying the 5 leadership skills that have been taught.

Session 8-final session-all participants come together to share their experiences of lesson visits, feedback and application of leadership skills.