Leading and Transforming Learning Programme

This development programme focuses on enhancing leadership skills to drive excellence in teaching and learning. Delegates collaborate with peers and sector experts to develop strategies and approaches to quality improvement, leaving with practical tools to drive excellence in teaching and learning delivery.

Through this fast-paced, challenging, and highly engaging programme, participants will come away with a practical toolkit to create conditions where excellent teaching and learning can flourish. This in-person development programme will also provide you with the opportunity to network with peers from a range of sector organisations and build new networks for the future.

This programme has been designed for colleagues from colleges, training providers, adult learning providers, and other professionals in the Further Education and Skills sector. Participants will be expected to hold a role with responsibility for leading curriculum, quality, teaching, and learning. Typically, participants will hold roles with titles such as Curriculum Leader, Head of Department, Head of Quality, Director of Curriculum, Assistant Principal, or Vice Principal.

The Leading and Transforming Learning programme will commence with a one-hour introductory online workshop. During this workshop, participants will meet the programme team and be introduced to the key elements of the programme.

Participants will then take part in four in-person, face-to-face, whole-day development workshops which will focus on:

• The craft of highly effective teaching and learning.
• Creating a high-impact learning culture.
• Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to transform learning.
• Sharpening the teaching and learning lens.

As part of the programme, participants will work in groups to complete a transformation project, which will be presented in the final workshop. There is an expectation that you will meet with your group outside of the programme workshops.

Dan Beale

FEA Director of Partnerships, Dan Beale has had a highly successful leadership career in the FE sector. He has served in a range of leadership positions including as Vice Principal at a college group in the South East as well as being a full time member of the inspectorate. He is a licenced Motivational Mapping practitioner and currently contributes to a range of leadership development programmes.

Paul Wakeling

Paul has over twenty years of experience as a senior leader, including as Principal/CEO of a successful college. He now works across sectors supporting organisational improvement. Paul attended ‘Chaos, Conflict and Crisis at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and, in return, embedded ideas of adaptive leadership into his practice. He has worked as an Associate for Warwick Business School, contributing to programmes for the Cabinet Office. He has published his ideas on leadership and learning in Wakeling, P. & Mackay, F. Leading & Learning in Challenging Circumstances in Challenging Professional Learning, ed. Crowley, S. Oxon. Routledge, 2014.

John Evans

John is a seasoned Further Education expert with over thirty years of experience transforming colleges. He led five college turnarounds, with three rated outstanding and two good. His leadership at The Cornwall College Group significantly improved academic and financial outcomes. Now a consultant, John focuses on leadership, curriculum design, and quality improvement, bridging gaps between education and industry. He is passionate about creating innovative, student-centered learning environments that drive lasting success.

An online programme launch and four facilitated one-day workshops