Institutionalized Governance: The Case of the National College for School Leadership

Abstract

The article is based on data from the Knowledge Production and Educational Leadership Project (funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council RES‐000-23-1192) where we investigated the relationship between the state and public policy and knowledge in England during the New Labor governments from 1997. The relationship between the state and civil society is one of institutionalized governance where the public institution in the form of the national ministry and the establishment of Non-Departmental Public Bodies remain important in policymaking but is increasingly inter dependent with networks of advisors and private consultants who “enter” government as policy designers and deliverers. We intend to develop this through using the National College for School Leadership as a case study based on primary documentation and interview data.

Keywords:

• governance
• public institution
• school leadership
• New Labor

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The research on which this article is based was funded by the ESRC through the Knowledge Production in Educational Leadership Project 2006–2007 (ESRC RES-000-23-1192). We would like to thank the ESRC for supporting this research, and we are deeply grateful to the people from all parts of the education system who have told us their stories and participated by giving generously of their time. We would like to thank the members of the Project Advisory Group for their engagement with the research and for the productive dialogue.

Notes

1. When New Labor came to power in 1997, the national ministry in London was called the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) after reorganization had taken place in 1995 (prior to this the title was Department for Education, DfE, and before that the Department of Education and Science, DES). In 2001 the DfEE became the DfES or Department for Education and Skills. In 2007 the DfES was split into two: Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF)/Department for Innovation, Universities, and Skills (DIUS).

2. The NCSL has nine regional (government region) affiliated centers (some housed in universities):

3. Leading from the Middle (LftM) is a 10-month professional development program for middle leaders. Groups of between two and four middle leaders from primary, secondary and special schools are supported by one leadership coach. See www.ncsl.org.uk

4. National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) was formally launched as a “qualification” (therefore different to a program) in September 1997 having undergone trials from January 1997 to July 1997. It was continued by the New Labor government and has gone through several reviews. The NPQH is for aspiring headteachers and is underpinned by the National Standards for Headteachers. It is mandatory to hold or have a place on NPQH in order to apply for a headship in the maintained sector. See www.ncsl.org.uk

5. The Headteachers’ Leadership and Management Program (HEADLAMP) was established in 1995 by the TTA to meet induction needs of newly appointed headteachers. The scheme offered school governors an induction grant of £2500 to spend on professional development of newly appointed heads within the first 2 years in post. This program has been discontinued, and the NCSL now has in place Early Headship Provision of which New Visions is a year-long personal and professional development program for all new headteachers. See www.ncsl.org.uk

6. The Leadership Program for Serving Headteachers (LPSH) was introduced in September 1998 for headteachers with three or more years experience. This has now been replaced by Head for the Future. See www.ncsl.org.uk

7. The London Leadership Center was located at the Institute of Education, University of London. This has been reorganized into the London Center for Leadership in Learning, Institute of Education, University of London. See www.ioe.ac.uk

8. Now the Ashridge Business School which has direct links with public sector, not least the National School for Government. See www.ashridge.org.uk

9. Sandhurst has a partnerships regarding public sector and corporate leadership training. See www.sandhurst.mod.uk/partners/idc.htm.