¹û¶³Ó°Ôº

The UK’s largest university-based centre for research, teaching, development and innovation in educational leadership.

The ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Centre for Educational Leadership was formerly known as the London Centre for Leadership in Learning (LCLL).

Director: Professor

Located in IOE, we are a world-leading centre for knowledge creation, exchange and application to promote high quality leadership, management and learning in education in London, the UK, and internationally.

We provide research-informed advice and guidance for educational leaders, managers and policy makers, focused on the impact of their strategies and actions.

About usÌý

Aims

• Develop criticality: build evidence-based, theory-informed and innovative approaches to policy and practice
• Deepen learning: broaden perspectives and forge connections between theory, policy and practice
• Nurture collaboration: encourage shared thinking within and between communities of learners
• Activate knowledge: develop and mobilise knowledge and understanding within organisations and systems
• Enhance equity: promote understanding about, and action around, equity and social justice.

Values

• Collegiality and trust
• Openness and optimism
• Respect and kindness
• Excellence and integrity.

Our staff

Research, teaching and enterprise staff

• – Director, Early Career Framework -Ìý¹û¶³Ó°Ôº
• Ìý–ÌýSenior Lecturer in Educational Leadership
• Kate Barry –ÌýProgramme Leader - NPQ
• Beth Billington – Programme Leader - NPQ
• Ìý–ÌýProgramme Leader -ÌýNPQ: Specialist Programmes and International Delivery Partner Lead
• Ìý–ÌýProgramme Leader,ÌýTeacher and Leadership Development Programmes (ECF)
• Nadia Dellagana-Campbell –ÌýProgramme Leader -ÌýNPQ
• – Senior Teaching Fellow in Educational Leadership
• –ÌýDirector of Professional Development Programmes
• –ÌýEmeritus Professor
• –ÌýReader in Educational Leadership
• –ÌýResearch Fellow
• –ÌýCentreÌýDirector of Academic Programmes
• –ÌýAssociate Professor (Teaching), Programme Leader, UK and International Leadership Development Programmes
• –ÌýAssociate Professor in Educational Leadership
• –ÌýProgramme Leader, MA in Applied Educational Leadership
• –ÌýAssociate Professor (Teaching), Programme Leader - NPQ
• Amanda InceÌý– Programme Leader - NPQ
• –ÌýAssociate Professor (Teaching), Programme Leader,ÌýTeacher and Leadership Development Programmes (ECF)
• –ÌýProgramme Leader, MBA Educational Leadership (International)
• Ìý–ÌýLecturer in Education
• –ÌýProgramme Leader, MA Leadership (Teach First)
• Ìý–ÌýLecturer (Teaching)
• –ÌýAssociate Professor, (Teaching) and Programme Leader,ÌýTeacher and Leadership Development Programmes
• –ÌýEmerita Professor of Urban Education
• –ÌýAssociate Professor (Teaching)Ìýand Programme Leader, International Leadership Programmes
• Ìý–ÌýResearch Fellow
• –ÌýEmerita Professor in Professional Learning
• –ÌýProgramme Leader NPQ

Professional services - support team

• Genevive Algie –ÌýECF Programme Coordinator
• Ìý–ÌýProgramme Administrator (Maternity Leave)
• –ÌýFinance and Programme Administrator for Leadership Curriculum
• –ÌýMarketing and Communications Coordinator
• Justin Decker –ÌýProgramme Administrator
• Vicky Devaney –ÌýSenior Learning Technologist
• Ìý–ÌýProgramme Administrator - NPQ
• Caleb Horn –ÌýECF Programme Coordinator
• –ÌýData Coordinator
• Ìý–ÌýDigital and Data Services Manager
• Ìý–ÌýAssistant Programme Administrator
• –ÌýProgramme Administrator
• Catherine Lau –ÌýProgramme Administrator
• –ÌýProgramme Administrator
• –ÌýFinance Manager
• Rory Pringle –ÌýProgramme Administrator - NPQ
• –ÌýProgramme Manager - ECF
• Ìý–ÌýProgramme Administrator
• –ÌýProgramme Administrator
• –ÌýData Coordinator
• Avrrajeev Sharma –ÌýDigital Engagement and Data Coordinator
• –ÌýProgramme Manager - NPQ
• Ìý–ÌýProgramme Manager, Early Careers Framework
• – Programme Coordinator
• Emmy Lam Yuk Wang –ÌýProgramme Administrator
• Vacancy –ÌýProgramme Coordinator

Study with us

Graduate taught

Our postgraduate degrees draw on the extensive knowledge and research base of the ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Centre for Educational Leadership and are taught by leading experts in the field.

They enable established and aspiring leaders and managers from education and wider sectors to reflect on educational leadership theory and evidence and to relate this to their own practice, helping them become effective leaders of learning and change.

Participants have opportunities to network with and learn from other professionals from a variety of settings at the world’s leading education department, IOE.

Programmes

• Applied Educational Leadership MA
• Educational Leadership (In-service) MAÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýEducational Leadership (Pre-service) MA

Graduate research

IOE was rankedÌýnumber one in the world for Education for the eleventh year running in the World QS University Rankings 2024, so it is the perfect place to study for a PhD or EdD in educational leadership.Ìý

Doctoral students based in the centre study various aspects of leadership and gain an excellent grounding in research design and methodology, selecting fromÌýIOE's wide range of specialist programmes. They receive supervision from our academic team to support their personal research.Ìý

Further info:

• Learning and Leadership MPhil/PhD

“My doctorate has been of enormous benefit to my work as a headteacher. I understand more about leadership and I have been asked to contribute more widely to policy-making and development in education at a national level. The intellectual capital which LCLL has in the field of education research is second to none. The library is extensive and the help received from tutors and professors is generous, open and willing. For all these reasons, as well as a great peer student body, I recommend LCLL"
- Dr Vanessa Ogden, Headteacher of Mulberry School for Girls.ÌýÌý

Leadership Development programmes

Our cutting-edge research, together with our close collaboration with schools, ensures that our programmes keep pace with current policy and practice.ÌýProgrammes are delivered at IOE or on-site for schools, groups of schools, local authorities and multi-academy trusts.

The programmes described below complement the National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)Ìýwhich are delivered by ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Centre for Educational Leadership under license from the DfE.

Developing your leadership career

Our offer includes:

• Early Leadership - for new or aspiring leaders.
• Developing Middle LeadersÌý- for those with some experience as middle leaders.
• Widening LeadershipÌý- for those aspiring to or in a senior leadership role.

National Professional Qualifications

The Specialist and Leadership National Professional Qualifications are accredited by the Department for Education (DfE). The qualifications are delivered in collaborative partnership between ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº and a nation-wide network of partnerships with newly established Teaching School Hubs, Multi Academy Trusts and other delivery partners.

• NPQ National Professional Qualification for Leading Primary Mathematics (NPQLPM) - created for teachers who have, or aspires to have responsibility for leading maths in a primary setting.
• NPQ Leading Literacy (NPQLL) - this programme will develop participants’ expertise in leading literacy by developing a deep understanding of evidence-based practice in language reading and writing.Ìý
• NPQ Leading Teaching (NPQLT) - designed for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading teaching in a subject, year group, key stage or phase.
• NPQ Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD) - designed for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading the development of other teachers in their school. They may have responsibilities for the development of all teachers across a school or specifically trainees or teachers who are early in their career.Ìý
• NPQ Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC) - designed for teachers who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading behaviour and/or supporting pupil wellbeing in their school.Ìý
• NPQ Senior Leadership (NPQSL) - designed for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a senior leader with cross-school responsibilities.Ìý
• NPQ Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) - designed for early years leaders qualified to at least Level 3 with full and relevant qualifications working in a wide range of Early Years (EY) settings including Private, Voluntary or Independent (PVI) with leadership responsibilities.Ìý
• NPQ Headship (NPQH) - designed for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, a headteacher or head of school with responsibility for leading a school.Ìý
• Early Headship Coaching Offer - this bespoke programme consists of tailored resources, coaching and peer networking opportunities to support ongoing professional development and wellbeing. The additional support offer is designed for those in their first five years of headship.Ìý
• NPQ Executive Leadership (NPQEL) - designed for school leaders who are, or are aspiring to be, an executive headteacher or a school trust CEO with responsibility for leading several schools.
• NPQ for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (NPQSENCO)

Our blended learning model builds on knowledge and evidence-based principles our programme is designed to challenge thinking and extend practice. Our inquiry-based, spiral model of knowledge acquisition and leadership development embeds learning in practice whilst taking account of workload pressures.

• See moreÌýinformation on National Professional Qualifications

Early Career Framework

IOE, appointed by The Department for Education as a National Lead Provider of The Early Career Framework (ECF), will play a vital role in supporting the development of Early Career Teachers (ECTs) and their mentors across the country working in partnership with Teaching School Hubs and other delivery partners.Ìý

Our programme, commencing September 2021, is drawn from expert theory and current practice, and informed by a deep understanding of the development needs of Early Career Teachers. It offers a robust professional learning pathway for ECTs based on The Early Career Framework.

This programme is led by The ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Centre for Educational Leadership recognising the critical importance of leadership in the development of early career teachers.Ìý

• See more information on our Early Career Teacher Programme

Activities

Our research

Our research generates cutting-edge evidence and theory which informs our teaching, consultancy and knowledge exchange work with schools and other educational settings in London, the United Kingdom and beyond.Ìý

We are a nationally and internationally recognised leading voice for innovative research on educational leadership and organisational learning and development in early childhood, primary, secondary and post-compulsory sectors.Ìý

Our research explores assumptions, processes and systems that shape and inform leadership, learning and development for individuals, teams, educational organisations and partnerships in diverse contexts, including schools, academies and multi-academy trusts (MATs) in England, and independent and international schools.Ìý

We provide research-informed advice and guidance for educational leaders, managers and policy makers, focused on the impact of their strategies and actions.

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Expertise

Our research group includes world-recognised academics, senior professors and a significant group of visiting professors and researchers.

Centre members undertake research and evaluation projects and teach on our post-graduate programmes. This means that our programmes are at the cutting-edge of current research and thinking.

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Methodologies

When undertaking research we use a range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies and draw on a number of social science disciplines and theoretical perspectives - this includes governance theory, organisational and institutional theory, knowledge mobilisation, ethical and social network theory, as well as theories of educational leadership, improvement and effectiveness.

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Themes

Our research interests are wide-ranging and overlapping but broadly fall under the following four themes:

1. Leadership and leadership development in educationÌý
2. Education policy analysis and system reform
3. Leadership of learning, evaluation and improvement
4. Leadership for wellbeing, social justice and equity.

Many of our researchers also publish in other fields, see:

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Current projects

• Evaluation of Education Development Trust: School Partnerships Programme
• Schools as enabling spaces to improve learning and health-related quality of life for primary school children in rural communities in South Africa

See also:

• Featured research
• Creating Place and Belonging in Schools

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IOE Research & Development (R&D) network

IOE R&D network was launched as a vehicle to connect schools, colleges, alliances and trusts that want to build their capacity for evidence-informed improvement with IOE's huge range of researchers, knowledge and expertise.

You can join as a single organisation or existing alliance/network. Membership brings access to IOE's library, a facilitated annual workshop to assess your school/network's progress and priorities for developing evidence-informed practice and access to a dedicated membership website.

Consultancy and Knowledge Exchange

Working for and with the profession is central to our approach.ÌýWe routinely work with governments, agencies, MATs and school groups. We do not just carry out research. We focus on ensuring that our research is relevant, accessible and supports professional and policy stakeholders in making a difference.

By collaborating with a wide range of professionals and key stakeholders in the education system nationally and internationally, we connect our research, leadership learning and development programmes closely with and for the wider profession. Such connection is fundamental in helping us to enhance the policy and practice impact of our centre’s research and teaching profiles.

At the ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Centre for Educational Leadership we:

• sit at the nexus of research, policy and practice knowledge to promote multi-way communicationÌý
• work with colleagues and partners to shape and carry out projects that give insight into the practice of educational leadership, leadership wellbeing, learning and development, and systems change
• co-design bespoke programmes, projects, strategies and materials to meet the needs of partners and other stakeholders, and draw on their experience and expertise
• work with stakeholders to understand, interpret, frame and share findings that lead to mutual learning, action and impact.

Leadership programme: Leading into the Future

Enhancing leadership to achieve excellence for all young Londoners.

Examples of recent projects

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Global reach

We offer international consultancy, knowledge exchange and professional development, having worked extensively with international school groups, governments and donor organisations in many locations around the world.

We support governments in the reform of education systems, working with ministries to develop and enact educational leadership policy including the provision of professional learning and development for school leaders.

Examples of recent international work

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Armenia: Leadership Development programme, AyB Foundation

Supporting the education system reform in Armenia. The work commenced with a review of existing leadership policy. The programme (2018-2021) focuses on building sustainable leadership capacity to support the implementation of a new curriculum, the 'Araratian Baccalaureate', initially in 42 'model' schools. Leadership standards have been agreed following six regional conferences and design work on a new leadership programme for Principals and Vice Principals is underway.

Estonia: Early career head teachers study visit, Foundation Innove

Improving the quality of teaching and learning in Estonia - a learning opportunity for the understanding of key competencies of effective school leaders and school leadership. Two study programmes were recently held in Estonia on behalf of Foundation Innove: for early career headteachers (Jan 2018) and for aspiring headteachers (Nov 2017).

China: Leadership development programme, Bright Scholar Education Group (BSEG)

We are currently delivering the third cohort of the International Leadership Programme for Headteachers and are engaged in discussion about supporting leadership capacity more widely across BSEG, with whom we continue to build a strategic relationship. BSEG is China's largest group of international schools with 150 bilingual schools teaching Chinese and British curriculum which has an emphasis on successful application to top universities in the UK and USA.

Myanmar: British Council Myanmar High Education Project

Developing leadership capacity for Teacher Education and Higher Education. Funding by the British Council and its continuation is subject to constant review because of the refugee crisis.Ìý

South East Asia: Alice Smith School (Malaysia)

Delivered Widening Leadership programme (Jan 2018) at the Alice Smith School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, trialling the use of the new Catalyst cards developed by Louise Stoll. There were 27 participants, half from Alice Smith and the rest from Borneo, Sabah, Singapore and other schools in Malaysia. The participants were stunning in their engagement in the programme and the evaluations were very positive.

Netherlands: British International School

Delivered Early Leadership programme to a group of participants from a number of European International Schools (early 2018) - participants ranged from teachers some in the early years of their career to a Head and Deputy from Sweden and an acting Head from within the Netherlands. This was a first phase of involvement with the Leadership Centre at the British International School in the Netherlands.

Programmes

• Leadership and Early Years Education: International Professional Programmes
  A suite of programmes to improve schools by developing strong, resilient and innovative leaders in kindergartens.
• International professional certificate for school leadership (IPCSL)
  A leadership programme to improve schools by developing leaders and aspiring leaders.

Publications

See a list of recent publications from ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Centre for Educational Leadership staff.