Stakeholder Engagement Framework

The National Academy for Educational Leadership has established an extensive Stakeholder Engagement Framework which aims to work with key stakeholder networks and forums that represent all areas of educational leadership across Wales and internationally.

Through its Stakeholder Engagement Framework the National Academy for Educational Leadership aims to:

• Communicate clearly with stakeholders what engagement will mean for them and how we will work in partnership to create conditions in which educational leadership will thrive.
• Maintain relationships with stakeholders already engaged with the work of the organisation and set out plans to engage those parts of the educational sector in Wales that are currently under-represented.
• Give feedback to stakeholders following their involvement in consultations and projects of any type or the development of products outlining how their views have been considered.
• Provide clear lines of communication for stakeholders to engage effectively with the National Academy for Educational Leadership, including identifying lead contacts for each stakeholder.
• Continually evaluate the effectiveness of mechanisms for stakeholder engagement.
• Where appropriate, agree partnership agreements with stakeholders.

Rather than being seen as a single event or process, stakeholder engagement will be regarded by the National Academy for Educational Leadership as the development of a relationship through four distinct phases:

We will use a wide range of methods to engage with our stakeholders including (but not limited to):

• One to one meetings
• Attendance at key stakeholder network meetings
• Membership of key stakeholder network groups
• On-line surveys
• Focus groups and consultation exercises
• Conference attendance including addresses from team members and Associates
• Roadshows
• Award sponsorship
• Forum events
• Sector events
• Endorsed provider events
• Associates
• Stakeholder Reference Groups

The Stakeholder Reference Group was created in June 2018. Its current members are practitioners from across a number of educational sectors including Schools, Post Compulsory Education and Training and the Youth Work Sector.

The Stakeholder Reference Group provides challenge and scrutiny to the National Academy for Educational Leadership, ensuring that the voice of educational leadership is represented. The group are important advocates of the work of the National Academy for Educational Leadership, drawing focus to the organisation’s work in all existing networks.

The National Academy for Educational Leadership has a separate Union Stakeholder Reference Group and also conducts regular stakeholder meetings with middle tier organisations which includes Estyn, Education Workforce Council (EWC), Colleges Wales, National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), Principal Youth Officers Group (PYOG), Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services (CWVYS), The Association of Directors of Education in Wales (ADEW), the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), the Director of the Diocesan and the regional education consortia.

The National Academy for Educational Leadership is always looking to build and develop new stakeholder relationships. If you would like to invite a member of the team to present to your organisation or setting, please contact a member of the team on post@agaa.cymru.

Stakeholder Forum

As part of its commitment to maintain and develop relationships with a wide range of stakeholders from across the educational sector, the National Academy for Educational Leadership holds an annual Stakeholder Forum.

The Stakeholder Forum aims to bring together leaders from across all education settings in Wales, in order to deepen the understanding of the work of the National Academy for Educational Leadership and collect important feedback which will help to shape the activity of the organisation.

Participants have the opportunity to discuss their own leadership practice with other leaders and share their ideas in regard to how the National Academy for Educational Leadership can support them, their setting and the wider education sector in Wales. The information collected is used to provide feedback to Welsh Government in order to shape and influence policy at a senior level.

Each forum event delivers a series of workshops which focus on important leadership issues of the time. There are also opportunities to network with colleagues and find out more about our endorsed provision, innovation pathway projects and upcoming events.

From Spring 2023, the National Academy for Educational Leadership will host a series of online forums throughout the year, targeting specific stakeholder groups to discuss and offer feedback on different priority areas and workstreams.

Stakeholder Reference Group

“I consider it an honour to be Chair of the Stakeholder Reference Group of the National Academy for Educational Leadership. The group is a key part of the Leadership Academy’s work and meets termly to discuss activity, give opinions and recommendations to the team. The group members come from a variety of sectors within the Welsh education landscape and you can familiarise yourself with them via their photographs and biographies, click learn more below.

Engaging with stakeholders is essential to the work of the National Academy for Educational Leadership in ensuring that the voice of leadership is heard throughout. If you would like to get learn more about the work of the stakeholder reference group or get involved, please contact a member of the team at post@agaa.cymru.”

Owain Gethin Davies is the Chair of the Stakeholder Reference Group of the National Academy for Educational Leadership Wales and also the Headteacher at Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy.

Photography: Polly Thomas