The High Potential Leadership Programme: Being a leader

As part of the Outwood Institute of Education’s High Potential Leadership Programme, participants have now completed their first core unit, ‘Being a Leader’. This unit is designed to establish a shared language and understanding of leadership that will underpin learning, coaching and development across the full 18-month programme.

Rather than focusing on operational leadership, the unit deliberately creates space for leaders to explore leadership identity, moral purpose and responsibility. Participants were encouraged to reflect on how leadership is experienced by others, how authority is built and sustained, and how leaders respond when under pressure.

The first half-day session was delivered by Contender Charlie, who explored leadership through the lens of Shakespeare’s Henry V. Using the play as a case study, participants examined themes such as legitimacy, courage, influence, communication, and the weight of leadership decision-making. The session challenged leaders to consider how belief is created, how values are demonstrated through action, and how leaders lead others through uncertainty.

Participants described this session as thought-provoking and highly engaging, valuing the opportunity to examine leadership in a way that was reflective, emotionally resonant and intellectually demanding.

The second half-day session was delivered by Julie Slater, Tarjinder Gill and Matthew Vickers and focused on leadership within the Outwood context. This session supported participants in clarifying leadership expectations at different stages and reflecting on the responsibilities that come with leading within the Trust.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants highlighting the depth of reflection and the opportunity to think beyond day-to-day practice.

“The session challenged how I think about leadership responsibility and the impact of my decisions on others.”

“Using Henry V as a lens made leadership feel real, complex and human; it stayed with me long after the session.”

“Having time to step back and reflect on who I am as a leader, rather than just what I do, was incredibly valuable.”

“The balance between external challenge and Outwood context helped me connect big ideas to my own leadership role.”

The first unit has set a strong and purposeful tone for the High Potential Leadership Programme, establishing reflection, challenge and shared understanding as key features as participants continue through the next stages of the programme.