Leadership Development Programme

Are you looking for the next step in your career?
Do you want to grow your career with Aldridge Education?

About our Leadership Development Programme

This course is designed as an opportunity to access expert career leadership coaching and development to further your career at Aldridge Education. With the second cohort of this course, we aim to support and promote a positive leadership culture across Aldridge, strengthen the talent management processes and help grow the number of people from under-represented groups in leadership roles. This course is open to leaders from both academic and operational backgrounds.

The structure of the course includes:

Six full day workshops (held at Aldridge @ Media City, Salford and Duke's Aldridge Academy, London)
Support and guidance from Coach Ruth Cane
Optional mentoring opportunities
Support to organise bespoke leadership opportunities
Five guest speaker interactions

Past guest speakers include:

Jane Fletcher, CEO of Aldridge Education
Pamela Donnelly, Chief Executive of Colchester City Council
Emma Beatty, Operations Director at Oak National Academy
Emma Bond, Detective Chief Inspector at the MET Police
Richard Stott, Managing Director of The Kexgill Group
Dr. Henrietta Blackmore - National Director at Habitat for Humanity GB
Richard Rawcliffe - Aldridge Education trustee and former Vice President at Dell Technologies
Malcolm Bennie - Director of Place Services at Falkirk Council
Paul Cornish - Executive Director of Education at the Ivy Education Trust
Tracy Mawson - commercial, social value and sustainability leader

Cohort 3 will launch in September 2026 and last a period of 18 months.

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Who should apply?

This course is aimed at participants who want to develop their career within Aldridge Education and are committed to knowing themselves and growing across the course.

The type of candidate we are looking for includes:

Those who are currently in an Assistant Principal or Vice-Principal role who are aspiring towards headship.
Experienced middle leaders who feel ready for more senior leadership responsibilities but have not yet had access to this opportunity.
Operational staff who aspire to develop their careers within their area of business.

More information

APPLICATIONS for COHORT 3 are now open

Click here to apply for the third cohort of the Leadership Development Programme, launching September 2026 and lasting a duration of 18 months. Please submit your application by close of play on Friday 19th June 2026. Interviews will be taking place on Monday 29th June and Wednesday 1st July 2026.

For further information, including the course calendar, please email GrowingTogether@aldridgeeducation.org.