SUPPORT GROUPS

Whereas annual support contracts are all about schools in the same area combining to make cost effective arrangements for senior team, middle leader, staff and governor training on the big issues of the day, Support Groups exist to help headteachers learn from one another. Headteachers form their own groups - ideally 10-12 in size - made up of colleagues who enjoy mutual professional trust and respect.

We then organise four meetings a year in a local conference venue of your choice, get in touch with you a few weeks before each meeting to arrange agenda items and provide a facilitator with previous headship experience to develop a relationship with the group and lead discussion on the day. Our experience with these groups as they develop is that they move from quite formal discussion of specific agenda items to a situation in which people turn up on the day, start talking about what's on their mind at the moment and then ask five hours later where the time went!

The biggest effort required with these groups is getting them off the ground in the first place, since heads are understandably sensitive about spending the school budget on their own professional development. Once they are established though, there's usually no looking back. Heads find them incredibly helpful (we'll be happy to put you in touch with some volunteers!) and we have been surprised by the extent to which continuing membership has come to be part of members' performance management objectives.

For a group of 10-12 delegates, the annual subscription is £750 plus VAT per school. This includes venue hire and all refreshments. We'll be happy to quote for smaller groups.