More than half of the participants in the first cohort of a program to develop future school leaders are now principals, a new report has found.

The evaluation report of the Senior Leadership – Aspiring Principal Leadership Program confirms its success in developing highly skilled and effective principals in NSW public schools.

The program was established by the School Leadership Institute in 2018 to strengthen the impact of senior school leaders and principals of the future, and ensure students and schools benefit from great leadership.

The report evaluated the first 4 cohorts to complete the program between 2018 and 2021 and found more than a quarter of the 201 participants had moved into a substantive principal role within 6 months of completing it.

It found nearly 83 per cent of graduating participants had a ‘significant’ or ‘very good’ understanding of the leadership practices that have the greatest impact on student outcomes.

The research also found:

• 81 per cent of participants reported feeling ‘significantly capable’ or ‘very capable’ of leading school improvement, innovation and change after completing the program.
• Almost 85 per cent of participants reported having a ‘very strong capacity’ or ‘strong capacity’ to confidently lead the strategic organisation of their school.

Rose Kingi graduated from cohort 4 of the program in 2021. She was recently appointed principal of James Erskine Public School in Sydney’s west.

“My teaching journey trajectory had always been towards leadership, but I took my time and I’m glad I did, as the opportunity to participate in this program wouldn’t have been there earlier,” Ms Kingi said.

“The School Leadership Institute and the Senior Leadership – Aspiring Principal Leadership Program gave me belief and hope. My experiences were inspiring and life changing."

Newly appointed Forbes North Public School principal David McGaw also graduated from cohort 4 of the program.

“The School Leadership Institute and the Senior Leadership – Aspiring Principal Leadership Program gave me belief and hope. My experiences were inspiring and life changing,” Mr McGaw said.

“I feel motivated, excited, challenged, and fulfilled each day.

“Any aspiring principals thinking about doing the program absolutely should. I can’t speak highly enough of the professional learning offered through the program or the support I received from the team at the School Leadership Institute.”

The Senior Leadership – Aspiring Principal Leadership Program is delivered by the SLI in partnership with the University of Wollongong. It is a 12-month professional learning program for aspiring principals and others seeking to enhance their leadership impact. The eighth cohort of the program started on October 24.

The full report is available on the School Leadership Institute’s website.