The National Catholic Leadership Programme (NCLP) has been established by the Formatio partnership to support the formation and recruitment of future and recently-appointed headteachers. 

Founding member of Formatio, Mike Shorten, presented the concept of the NCLP, endorsed by the CES and Formatio, for each diocese to use a common framework to meet their own needs. The framework's writers come from Catholic teaching schools across the country, and at present the dioceses of Hexham and Newcastle, Leeds and Nottingham are at different stages of piloting the NCLP course.  

Suzanne Lewis-Dale (pictured) is Acting Headteacher of St Joseph's Catholic Academy, which is part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.

Here, she reflects on her experience with the NCLP:

"I joined the course because I love learning, I love knowledge which challenges me to look at my practices through different lenses. This means that I’m on a continual journey of professional learning and better equipped to support the staff and students in my care. I thought that the course would give me time to reflect, share good practice and challenge me.

"It did all that and more. The opportunities to network and build up professional dialogues about key challenges within schools was incredibly valuable. 

"The sessions I enjoyed were the sessions rooted in our purpose and our 'why' - Christ at the centre. It was really interesting to look at accountability, teaching and learning, and curriculum through the lens of Catholicism, faith present with you, reminds us of our purpose. It is really easy to get lost in the day-to-day business, in the numbers, data and processes.

"This strand of Christ and God through the key aspects of leadership was a real opportunity for reflection. Listening to the range of different speakers from different roles exploring themes and sharing practice was inspiring and I took so many elements back into school.

"The big impact on my daily practice were the ideas surrounding Christ at the centre. For many of our students we are their only encounter, we are the Church. We are all parts of a whole. This was very different to my NPQH and other leadership courses I have taken part in. 

"I would highly recommend the course."

The Formatio partnership supports the CES and diocesan schools commissions to work with the four Catholic universities and Catholic multi-academy trusts in implementing strategies for school leadership and governance, as commissioned by the Bishops in 2017.

To find out more about the NCLP contact your diocesan education service or schools commission.