Manchester Academy becomes a National Support School (NSS)

Mrs. August has become one of only 75 head teachers across the country to be appointed in the latest recruitment round by the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services to the prestigious role of National Leader of Education (NLE). It also means Manchester Academy is now designated a National Support School (NSS). 

To mark the occasion Mrs. August has been invited to an event at the National College’s Learning and Conference Centre in Nottingham for a formal induction and training for the role they will play in raising standards. NLEs use their success and professionalism as school leaders, along with the staff in their school – designated a National Support School - to provide additional leadership capacity in struggling schools. The deployment is tailor-made to suit the needs of each school in challenging circumstances. The type of support provided is flexible and can involve NLEs becoming acting or executive head teacher of the client school or schools. They also have responsibility for helping to grow the next generation of NLEs and National Support Schools.  

The latest expansion of the scheme brings the total number available for deployment nationally to 377. The overall expansion will see the number of NLEs increase by up to 500 by 2012 leading ultimately to 300 primary and 200 secondary National Support Schools. It is estimated that up to half a million children have so far benefited from the scheme.

Mrs. August said: “What is crucial is that we sustain the structures and systems that have brought success to Manchester Academy, whilst devolving the knowledge and expertise of our staff to colleagues in other challenging schools. This way we ensure that there is a high quality of education for every child, no matter which school they attend. With many more remarkable heads and schools out there, who have the aspiration to offer support, the days of second-class education will be over.”  

Toby Salt, Deputy Chief Executive of the National College, said: “I am so proud that outstanding school leaders like Kathy August are being honoured in this way. This scheme is about great head teachers and their teams helping others and making a big difference. Many of the schools in the scheme see improvements in exam results at both the support and client schools with progress achieved in excess of the improvements nationally. This is thanks to the hard work and dedication of all those involved.”