I love learning through Leader-Connect, brilliant for my own and my team’s leadership development.
Stepping into school leadership is one of the most challenging transitions in education.
You’re no longer just responsible for your own classroom — you’re responsible for people, culture, decisions, and direction. This course is designed to support new and aspiring school leaders through that transition, focusing on the real challenges faced in the first term of headship.
Drawing on his experience leading a large secondary school, Glyn Potts shares practical, honest insights into what it actually takes to lead well in a complex and demanding environment.
Why This Matters
Most leadership development in education focuses on teaching practice. Very little prepares you for:
That’s where this course focuses.
Because strong schools are built on strong leadership — not just strong teaching.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for:
What's Included
About The Instructor
Glyn Potts MBE DL is CEO of Greater Manchester Youth Federation and a former Headteacher of a large secondary school. He has led complex organisations, managed large teams, and worked extensively in both education and community leadership. Glyn’s approach is grounded in clarity, trust and empowerment — with a strong belief that leadership is about creating environments where people can thrive.
If you’re stepping into school leadership and want a practical, grounded approach to leading well — this course provides a clear and supportive starting point.
You can watch Neil and Glyn on the Leader-Connect podcast where they discuss "How to lead a school".
Read how individuals and companies have benefited from undertaking in person and online leadership courses with Leader-Connect.
I love learning through Leader-Connect, brilliant for my own and my team’s leadership development.
Deputy Director, University of Sheffield
Leader-Connect online courses are an excellent tool for leadership development. Great courses for leaders in any line of work.
CEO Greater Manchester Youth Federation
“I’ve really enjoyed the variety in the learning approach on the Leadership Development Programme — from role play and games through to quiet reflection and team tasks — which kept the sessions engaging and made the learning easy to connect to real situations.
The session on teaching teams how to use the OODA model was particularly valuable for me personally. I’ve really enjoyed the course overall and have appreciated the relationships built along the way.”
Delegate, University of Sheffield
Neil gave a keynote talk to all of our Executive Team and Trust Leaders. He spoke about leadership and was very engaging – leaving us wanting more. The talk has already had an impact. We also bought copies of the leadership book for our leadership team and everyone has really enjoyed reading it & learning from it. We are keen to invite Neil back next year!
Deputy CEO, Bright Futures Educational Trust
The Leadership Development Programme is an excellent course. Full of lots of great content, but also thoroughly enjoyable and led by two enormously lovely guys in Paul & Marcus.
Delegate, University of Sheffield
“Spending a day with Neil Jurd was genuinely transformational. It sharpened my sense of purpose as a Headteacher, brought fresh clarity to how I lead, and gave me renewed energy for the future. Colleagues noticed the difference immediately – that sense of clarity, calm and purpose that Neil draws out so naturally.
That’s why I’ve now booked all 21 of our Extended Leadership Team onto Neil’s leadership programme. It’s the perfect blend of inspiration and practicality – designed for schools, rooted in real leadership, and accessible through his excellent online platform. If you’re serious about developing people and culture, start here.”
Headteacher - Dallam School
Use code LC50 for 50% off all courses and memberships!