Description
Leading Partnerships gives those with responsibility for leading school partnerships the knowledge and skills to develop a strategy and lead a partnerships programme with confidence, supported by their own peer-support network.
Responsibility for leading school partnerships can rest with Heads, deputies, directors of external relations or marketing, CEOs – or classroom teachers; this is the only comprehensive professional development course for them, led by Christina Astin, founder of the #PartnerChat network.
“I highly recommend this course to anyone who is tasked with developing partnership strategies to work with other schools and organisations. Beyond the extremely useful and relevant resources and tasks, the opportunity to network, share good practice and discuss challenges with other like-minded professionals, while being coached by someone with a wealth of experience (Christina) was incredibly rewarding and impactful.” Andy Thwaite-Howarth, Hurlingham Prep School, 2025-6 programme
“My partnerships role sits within the state sector. This course has helped me think about the approach I now take to deal with challenges. It has been a great course. Christina is full of positivity and this course has helped me see that the solution to forming a good partnership comes from a solid base and this course has helped build a framework for that.” 2024-5 delegate, multi-academy trust
100% of delegates from across two cohorts would recommend the course to a colleague leading partnerships.
Who should enrol on this programme?
- Partnership Leads, Headteachers, Deputy Heads, anyone responsible for developing – or looking to develop – partnerships with other schools
- MAT leaders, or Trust directors leading across a number of different schools within a Trust
- Those recently appointed to lead partnerships at a school (at whatever level of seniority within your school)
- Those aspiring to lead partnerships in future and are looking to strengthen their skills in this field
Why should I enrol?
- to gain the confidence and skills to lead an impactful and sustainable partnerships programme for your school, partnership or Trust
- to understand the specific challenges of leading partnerships and how to overcome them
- to thrive in a partnerships leadership role with a support network of peers and guidance from a sector expert
“This has been a very enjoyable course, culminating in the fifth session being face to face. I have learned a great deal and want to thank Christina for all her hard work and skill in organising the course, which I hope is the first cohort of many to come!” 2023-4 delegate, independent senior school
“Thank you for all of your expertise and support. It has allowed me to fast track my first year in the role and I know I am now viewed as a trusted pair of hands in the field” 2024-5 delegate, independent prep school
What will be covered?
The course uses as its course book Christina’s Partnerships WorkBook, published in June 2023 (e-book included in the course fee). Each session addresses different aspects of cross-sector partnership working, leading to the delegates developing a comprehensive strategy for their school.
In between sessions delegates will have the opportunity to complete interim tasks in consultation with colleagues at their school as they work towards completing the strategy.
Programme for 2026-7, beginning and ending with in-person sessions in London:
All delegates are be invited to join an exclusive WhatsApp group as a peer support network. One delegate said: “I always felt connected, informed and included. It was all very well balanced and well-judged: not intrusive or repetitive but timely and helpful in keeping me connected and up-to-date during the time between sessions.”
Details
- The course is delivered via five 2-hour sessions, starting and ending in-person in London (online between)
- Places are limited to maximise interactivity
- Cost for all 5 sessions: £595 including Partnerships WorkBook copy (value £99)
- 5% discount for two or more colleagues booking together (from same school or different schools, e.g. in a partnership or MAT) – use coupon code MULTI5
- Contact us if you require an invoice to process payment.
- Colleagues are welcome from any type of school, partnership or MAT of any age range, located in UK or overseas
- A padlet is used to share resources and ideas, and if you have to miss part of a session, the recording will be shared afterwards
- Access to discounted Insights Discovery profiling available to inform your leadership style and professional strengths and 1:1 coaching to embed your learning in-school.
Course director Christina Astin is a sector leader in cross-sector partnerships and has been the first to lead training in this area, as well as writing and speaking about partnerships. She launched the #PartnerChat network in 2022 with its regular Breakfast Briefings and published Partnerships Workbook in 2023. She is a Level 7 qualified leadership coach and an accredited Insights Discovery practitioner.
Feedback from delegates on previous Leading Partnerships programme:
“You are supported, nurtured and developed both by Christina but also by the community of fellow learners. By the end of the course you feel ready, confident, equipped to go out and do the good partnership work with an on-going community of support!” 2023-4 delegate
“It is essential for ‘away from your school but whole school’ perspective. It also helps you arrange the vast amount of information and possibilities into a sensible framework.” 2024-5 delegate
“This has been a very enjoyable course, culminating in the fifth session being face to face. I have learned a great deal and want to thank Christina for all her hard work and skill in organising the course, which I hope is the first cohort of many to come!” 2023-4 delegate
“Thank you so much for all that you have given during the New to Partnerships course. I have been grateful to you for your expertise, guidance, encouragement and support – and for your ‘critical friend’ voice that has planted important questions and reflections in my head that will stay with me!” 2023-4 delegate
