Become an Associate
The National Academy for Education Leadership is committed to ensuring that Wales is a great place to be an educational leader and that, through high quality leadership across the educational system, we deliver our nations bold ambition for learners.
Developing effective system leadership is central to the education reform journey described in Our National Mission and is at the heart of the work we are taking forward in Wales through our flagship Associate model. Our vision for 2026 describes system leaders driving self-improvement, with professionals collaborating and leading beyond organisational structures, between tiers and across sectors.
For this next round of Associates, we are particularly interested in appointing senior leaders from a range of educational settings across Wales including:
- Assistant Headteachers
- Deputy Headteachers
- Headteachers
- Senior leaders from the youth work sector
- Senior leaders from Post Compulsory Education & Training (includes further education, adult community learning and work-based learning).
The National Academy for Educational Leadership is seeking to appoint Associates from under-represented groups including Black and Global Majority people in all sectors.
Deadline for applications 10 May.
Find out more about the role of the Associate and how to apply in our application guide.
Why Apply?
Over 70 senior leaders in the education sector have benefitted from being an Associate of the National Academy for Educational Leadership since 2018. During their tenures, Associates have been immersed in the highest quality professional learning opportunities available from across Wales and beyond.
This year’s successful applicants will make up the seventh cohort of Associates and will take part in a tried and tested professional learning experience that will develop them as credible and effective system leaders, leading learning in their own settings and beyond.
As an Associate within cohort 7 you will enjoy:
- Residential, professional learning experiences comprising of sessions led by current Associates, staff and leadership experts, which concentrate on key system leadership skills including advocacy, facilitation, gatekeeping and improvement.
- The opportunity to complete a collaborative research commission focusing on a key priority of Wales’ education journey.
- Webinars from recognised leaders from across the globe, with content specifically targeted at your commission focus. Previous speakers have included: Professor Steve Munby CBE, Professor Mick Waters, Professor Laura McAllister CBE, Professor Michael Fullan, Professor Ken Muir, Professor Graham Donaldson, and Diana Osagie
- Being part of the panel that quality assures leadership development provision for the education sector in Wales.
- The opportunity to challenge and influence education policy through engagement with senior government officials.
- Priority access to all National Academy for Educational Leadership events and an opportunity to develop your facilitation skills further by leading discussion groups and facilitating question and answer sessions with prominent names from the leadership world.
Time commitment
The expected time commitment required to carry out the role will vary across weeks, according to the interest and expertise of the Associate, in principle it is equivalent to 1 day a week and will include four 2-day residential learning experiences, half-termly meetings (2 hours on-line), termly webinars, conferences and on-going quality assurance activity.
Key dates:
- Deadline for applications – 10 May 2024 12:00 noon
- Selection panel interviews – June 2024
- Candidates informed of the outcome from the selection panel – 21 June 2024
- Associate role begins – 1 September 2024
To apply please complete the application form and send to post@agaa.cymru.
For further information regarding the above, please contact Mark Isherwood on mark.isherwood@agaa.cymru.