In this section:
We know that improvements in our schools, colleges and settings will only be achieved where there is strong leadership.
Portsmouth Education Partnership has embarked on a collaborative programme of school improvement which is led by the School Leadership and Effectiveness Board and supported by our work with all stakeholders within the partnership.
The work of the board embeds shared values and builds on the historically strong relationships between the local authority and the education sector in Portsmouth, supplementing, without duplicating, work within multi-academy trusts (MATs) and the Teaching School Hubs Council.
The current focus of the School Leadership and Effectiveness Board is to support the implementation of the Portsmouth Education Strategy 2023-2026 and the legacy from the Priority Education Investment Area programme delivered across Portsmouth.
School improvement and PEP peer review (the 3 Hs)
The School Leadership and Effectiveness Board continues to enable schools to collaborate with each other to support school improvement whether this is through peer review or sharing challenges and good practice.
With over 90% of schools across the Portsmouth Education Partnership now completing the 3Hs document, the School Leadership and Effectiveness Board recognises that school priorities and successes may change over time. Please take the opportunity to update your ‘Highlight, Headache and Horizon’ as appropriate.
Senior leadership
We have established a network for deputy and assistant headteachers across the Portsmouth Education Partnership. This is a forum to support leadership across schools and to secure succession planning.
Termly conferences and twilight sessions allow for inspirational speakers and the supportive sharing of practice.
Dates for the academic year 2025/26:
- Afternoon session on Wednesday 8 October 2025
- Morning session on Wednesday 24 June 2026
Middle leadership
Leadership courses
For academic year 2025-26, the Portsmouth Education Partnership is offering places on the following two subject leadership courses, delivered through the University of Chichester Academy Trust.
New to subject leadership: evidence-based CPD for new and/or emerging subject leaders
Session 1 – Leading as a teacher | Tuesday 30 September 2025, 1pm – 4pm
- Roles and responsibilities
- Creating a vision
- Leadership vs management
Session 2 – Your subject and change | Thursday 4 December 2025, 1pm – 4pm
- The process of implementation
- Exploring your subject
Session 3 – Action planning | Wednesday 4 February 2026, 1pm – 4pm
- Shifting to be a strategic leader
- Effective action planning
Session 4 – Reviews and monitoring | Wednesday 10 June 2026, 1pm – 4pm
- Effective review cycle
- Trails, monitoring and adapting
Facilitators: Jane Bush and colleagues
Cost: All four sessions – £225
Enlivening subject leadership: evidence-based CPD for existing subject leaders
Session content:
- Sharpening your focus and vision
- Brookfield’s model of self-reflection
- Understanding leadership styles
- Shaping and checking the curriculum
- Shifting to strategic leadership
- Implementing change
- Accountability
Date: Wednesday 1 July 2026, 9am – 4pm
Facilitators: Jane Bush and colleagues
Cost: Whole day course – £120
Both courses are facilitated by Jane Bush and colleagues. Timings are all 1pm – 4pm. For confirmation of dates and to sign up, please email email Ciara Da Costa at cdacosta@langstone-inf.
Subject networks
We continue to support the development of subject networks in the city, particularly in order to provide more support for middle leaders to develop subject knowledge, high-quality curriculum planning and a clear understanding of the importance of sequencing learning in order to improve the quality of education. Other focused work is often on assessment, adaptation and supporting learners from vulnerable groups.
These subject network groups are inclusive of middle leaders within multi-academy trusts and local authority maintained schools, some being led by practitioners themselves and others by specialists or advisory staff.
Dates for the academic year 2025/26:
- Wednesday 1 October 2025, 4pm – 5pm
- Wednesday 4 February 2026, 4pm – 5pm
- Wednesday 3 June 2026, 4pm – 5pm
More information can be found in each of the subject area pages listed on the Curriculum and CPD page.
Support for governors
Portsmouth City Council (PCC) offers three areas of service to Portsmouth schools and academies:
1. Portsmouth governor briefing sessions
All governors at Portsmouth local authority (LA) maintained schools and academies are warmly invited to attend the half-termly themed governor briefing sessions which cover a range of topics that will be of interest and relevance to governors in Portsmouth.
In 2025 – 26, six governor briefings will be run across the course of the year, all on Microsoft Teams. They will open from 4.55pm for a prompt 5pm start and close at 6pm.
- Thursday 2 October 2025
- Wednesday 19 November 2025
- Tuesday 3 February 2026
- Wednesday 18 March 2026
- Thursday 7 May 2026
- Tuesday 23 June 2026
To be added to the list to receive invitations to these briefings, please email [email protected].
2. Governor recruitment service
School governor and academy trustee positions are advertised on the Hive Portsmouth website. The council has also been running a governor recruitment campaign amongst PCC staff and with partner organisations.
A template advert is available for schools to use. Please email completed templates to [email protected].
3. Signposting to additional sources of support, advice and training
A number of other organisations provide support for school governors on a range of matters on either a free or paid for basis:
- Hampshire Governor Services offers a one-stop shop for training and support for governors in Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton.
- The National Governance Association offers a consultancy and training service which is open to all governing boards in England.
- Solent Governance specialises in working with boards seeking to improve their collective skills to deliver more effective governance. Tailored training packages, as well as pay-as-you-go services, are available. In addition, termly governor induction and refresher training is available for governors to access. Solent Governance offers training, development and support services for all types of schools on a subscription or pay as you go basis.