This report summarises and evaluates the benefits, costs and outcomes of two senior leadership development programmes at the end of their initial pilot phase. It follows a briefer, more quantitative report in July 2017 and is accompanied by a ‘repository’ of the protocols, plans, materials and resources developed for the two programmes, as a guide for the future development. The two programmes reported here were part of a four-strand initiative funded from the National College for Teaching and Leadership’s Targeted Support Fund. This report focuses on the pilot phase of two programmes designed for senior leadership: Executive Heads and Accelerator Heads (previously Unprepared Heads). The proposal was developed by the West Midlands Teaching Schools Council (TSC) Representative, supported by the regional Strategic Board of teaching school representatives and the West Midlands TSC Co-ordinator (Kelvin Peel). Paul Crisp and colleagues from the Centre for the Use of Research and Evidence in Education (CUREE) provided design and logistical support and acted as programme co-ordinator. Both Executive Heads and Accelerator Heads were distinctive programmes, developed in direct response to an identified need in the region; design groups included members of the intended beneficiaries of the programmes, together with regional teaching school personnel with experience of related projects.
