Sixth Form Leadership Essentials Programme

24 hours to excellence: with up to 24 hours of professional development, this year-long programme for heads of sixth form and post-16 leaders is built around your role, your accountability, and your students.

Sustained, structured professional development changes how you lead. Not as a one-off, but across a full year, alongside peers who understand exactly what you are carrying.

What is this programme?
Sixth Form Leadership Essentials is a structured, year-long programme designed specifically for the complexity of post-16 leadership. Developed and delivered by Claire Green, ASCL Post-16 and Skills Specialist, former Director of Sixth Form, and author of The Sixth Form Slant, alongside a carefully selected group of expert practitioners, the programme combines in-person sessions, live webinars and peer coaching to support you across a full academic year.

Why is it needed?
The Schools White Paper, the Post-16 Skills White Paper, ongoing qualification reform, and growing Ofsted scrutiny have placed sixth forms firmly under the spotlight. Destinations data, retention rates, curriculum coherence and value for money are now front-of-house accountability questions, and you are expected to answer them confidently.

Yet heads of sixth form are still among the most professionally isolated leaders in education. You hold together curriculum, data, safeguarding, mental health, attendance, culture and external accountability, often without a peer in your setting who truly understands the role. One-off conferences offer inspiration. What they cannot offer is the sustained support, the thinking space, and the practical tools to lead your sixth form with strategic clarity, week after week, across a full year.

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Programme structure
Sponsored by Unifrog, this blended, year-long programme runs from September 2026 to July 2027 and combines two full in-person days at The Grand Hotel Leicester, seven live online webinars, and two structured peer-coaching sessions. Sessions are scheduled around the academic year’s key pressure points. A self-review tool runs throughout to build your thinking between sessions without adding to your workload.

For details of each session and speaker bios, fees, who this programme is suitable for, and the benefits of completing this programme, see the tabs below.

This programme is being led by Claire Green, ASCL Post-16 and Skills Specialist. Claire is Post-16 and Skills Specialist at ASCL, supporting school and college members on all issues impacting post-16 and the skills agenda.  Claire represents ASCL members in meetings with a wide range of government agencies and stakeholder groups, lobbying for improvements within post-16 education. Claire also oversees the running of the ASCL Post-16 Advisory Group.

Claire has worked in secondary education for twenty years, originally a history teacher holding department and faculty leadership roles before moving into sixth form leadership positions on the senior leadership team at two large and high-performing secondary schools.  Claire has worked for several years as a Director of Sixth Form, shaping strategy, curriculum pathways and assessment reform.  Claire also writes a blog focused on sixth form leadership - The Sixth Form Slant - through which she has provided support and guidance for sixth form leaders across the country.

£699 + VAT

In-person, Leicester | Tuesday 29 September 2026 | Full day

Led by: Claire Green, ASCL Post-16 and Skills Specialist, and Andrew Parkin, Principal, St Dominic’s Sixth Form College Harrow and Chair of the ASCL Sixth Form Advisory Group.

Your sixth form has a story. This opening session is about learning to tell it and building the culture, identity and external presence that makes it true. We explore how to define and lead a distinctive sixth form ethos, what effective marketing and recruitment looks like, and how to design open evenings, induction days and student leadership that run consistently from your front door to your digital presence.

By the end of this session you will:

  • be able to define and articulate a clear sixth form ethos that shapes culture, behaviour and academic expectations
  • have practical tools for sixth form marketing, recruitment and Year 11 outreach
  • know how to design induction days that build belonging from day one
  • understand how to develop student leadership and co-creation as part of your sixth form identity

Before Session 2: Complete your self-review tool to begin mapping your current sixth form position.

Speaker:
Andrew Parkin
Principal, St. Dominic’s Sixth Form College Harrow on the Hill

Andrew Parkin was educated at St John's RC Comprehensive School, Bishop Auckland and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington. He studied music at Durham (Hild/Bede) and Cambridge (Hughes) before starting his professional career in London at The St Marylebone Girls' School in 1995. Andrew went on to be deputy head at Sion Manning Girls' School in Kensington, and then St Augustine's High School in Westminster before being appointed as Principal at St. Dominic’s Sixth Form College in Harrow on the Hill, NW London in 2013, where he remains in post today. He has led St. Dominic’s through two recent Ofsted Inspections and a Catholic Schools Inspection, attaining a ‘grade 1’ in all areas on all occasions and it is now regarded as one of the most successful sixth form colleges in England. Andrew is a member of ASCL council and was Chair of the UCAS Advisory Council between 2018 and 2024. He is an organist and pianist and is a member of the BBC Symphony Chorus performing at a variety of London venues.

Webinar | Tuesday 13 October 2026 | 90 minutes

Led by: Claire Green, ASCL Post-16 and Skills Specialist, and Paul Hanks, Pro16 Plus.

This session places you at the centre of whole-school leadership, not as an operational manager, but as a strategic voice for post-16 success. We explore the full scope of the role, how to build the partnerships across SLT, curriculum and pastoral teams that make sixth form improvement possible, and the accountability and funding framework you are expected to lead with confidence.

By the end of this session you will:

  • have greater clarity about where your role sits strategically within whole-school leadership
  • be more confident navigating the 16–19 accountability and funding framework
  • know how to strengthen the partnerships that give sixth form improvement real traction


Before Session 3: Complete your self-review tool.

Speaker:
Paul Hanks
Founder & Director, Pro 16 Plus

Paul Hanks is the visionary founder of Pro 16 Plus, bringing over 15 years of deep expertise in post-16 education funding to every organisation he works with. His career began at the Learning and Skills Council, where he developed a thorough command of the funding landscape - navigating its complexities and helping educational institutions secure the resources they needed to thrive. 

Following a successful period at Doncaster Local Authority, Paul founded Pro 16 Plus in 2013 - a specialist consultancy dedicated to demystifying post-16 funding for schools and colleges across Yorkshire and beyond. Recognised as an industry pioneer, Paul is known for his forward-thinking approach, practical flexibility, and an unwavering commitment to empowering institutions to achieve financial stability and sustainable growth. 

Paul continuously seeks new ways to innovate and improve the support services Pro 16 Plus delivers, ensuring clients benefit from the latest sector developments and best practice. At the heart of everything Paul does is a genuine commitment to building lasting client relationships grounded in trust, reliability, and positive outcomes. 

Webinar | Tuesday 10 November 2026 | 90 minutes

Led by: Claire Green, ASCL Post-16 and Skills Specialist, and Lisa Goodship, Education consultant, Ascend Learning Trust and the Active Learning Trust.

Strong sixth form outcomes don’t happen by accident. This session gives you the tools to read your data, act on it early, and build the conditions for every student to make genuine progress, including your highest attainers. We look at how to use assessment points and progress data strategically, design effective interventions, lead purposeful progress review meetings and engage teachers and parents in raising achievement.

By the end of this session you will:

  • know how to use data to set priorities and drive improvement across your sixth form
  • have a clear approach to identifying and responding to underperformance early
  • have practical strategies for stretch and challenge alongside targeted intervention


Before Session 4: Complete your self-review tool.

Speaker:
Lisa Goodship          
Senior education leader with 30 years of expertise in school improvement, Post‑16 strategy and curriculum leadership

Lisa Goodship is a highly experienced senior education leader with 30 years of expertise in school improvement, Post‑16 strategy and curriculum leadership. She has a proven track record of driving impactful change, raising student outcomes, and supporting leaders through strategic guidance and coaching. 

From September Lisa will be working for ALPs and the Ascend Learning Trust, specialising in using data‑driven approaches to strengthen teaching, learning and Post‑16 provision. She previously served as the Post‑16 Senior Education Lead at PiXL, where she delivered national training, shaped strategy and supported hundreds of school and college leaders to achieve sustained improvement. 

Lisa is passionate about maximising every student’s potential and empowering educators to achieve excellence. 

Online peer coaching session | Thursday 3 December 2026 | 90 minutes

Facilitated by: Claire Green, ASCL Post-16 and Skills Specialist.

This session is deliberately different with no new content and slides. Working in pairs or triads with fellow participants, this is protected time to step back from the pace of term, share what you have tried, what has shifted, and where you are still working things out. The conversations that happen here are often where the most useful learning takes root.

By the end of this session you will:

  • have consolidated your learning from Sessions 1 to 3
  • have shared practice honestly with peers who understand your context
  • have identified one or two clear priorities to take forward into the new year

Before Session 5: Complete your self-review tool.

Webinar | Tuesday 26 January 2027 | 90 minutes

Led by: Claire Green, ASCL Post-16 and Skills Specialist, and Laura Page, Schools Supported.

Keeping students in your sixth form, and keeping them safe, is a leadership responsibility, not an administrative one. This session covers strategies for monitoring and improving post-16 attendance, supporting vulnerable students and those at risk of becoming NEET, and the safeguarding responsibilities and legal requirements that are specific to 16–19 leaders.

By the end of this session you will:

  • have a clear approach to monitoring and improving post-16 attendance
  • know how to identify and support students at risk of becoming NEET
  • be confident in your safeguarding responsibilities and legal duties as they apply specifically to 16–19 learners


Before Session 6: Complete your self-review tool.

Speaker:
Laura Page
Director, Schools Supported SEND Adviser, DfE Local Authority Reforms

Laura is a safeguarding, SEND and inclusion specialist working nationally with MATs, schools and local authorities. Her work sits at the intersection of safeguarding and inclusion, and how the two work together so young people can thrive. 

She is Director of Schools Supported, a consultancy specialising in SEND and inclusion, and a SEND Adviser for the current DfE Local Authority Reforms. 

Before teaching, Laura led youth social-action campaigns at the BBC, tackling exam anxiety, safer sex, mental health and anti-bullying. Amplifying young people's voices and addressing the barriers they face continues to underpin her approach to inclusive and safe schools. 

She is a founding member of the Supervision for Schools Network, a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, and an expert partner for the National College on SEND. She was Lead Writer for the NPQSENCo with the National Institute of Teaching, sits on the advisory board for Challenge Partners' SEND Developmental Peer Review, is a Trustee for a MAT of Alterative Provision and Special Schools, and is completing a Master's in Social Justice and Education at UCL.

Webinar | Tuesday 9 February 2027 | 90 minutes

Led by: Claire Green, ASCL Post-16 and Skills Specialist, and Simon Warner, Senior Account Manager at Unifrog.

A strong tutor programme develops students as people, not just exam candidates. This session is about designing that programme with intention and leading your tutors to deliver it consistently, drawing together UCAS, careers, wellbeing and personal development into a coherent whole, meeting PSHE and Gatsby Benchmark expectations, and embedding the new Enrichment Framework requirements in ways that feel purposeful rather than bolted on.

By the end of this session you will:

  • have a clear framework for designing and sequencing a purposeful post-16 tutor programme
  • understand how to meet PSHE, Gatsby Benchmark and Enrichment Framework expectations coherently
  • have practical strategies for supporting tutors to deliver with confidence and consistency


Before Session 7: Complete your self-review tool.

Speaker:
Simon Warner
Senior Account Manager. Unifrog

Simon has 15 years of education experience having previously been an Assistant Headteacher in North London and Hertfordshire supporting students with personal development, character and careers as well as overseeing quality of education. 

He now works for Unifrog as Regional Account Team Lead helping to support schools and their students across the South East and East of England to make their best next steps. This is through the integration of the platform into their school systems and working with careers leads to review and implement their careers and PD plans. Simon holds a Masters in Education as well as an NPQSL and has experience as an examiner and a visiting fellow for ECTs.

Webinar | Wednesday 3 March 2027 | 90 minutes

Led by: Claire Green, ASCL Post-16 and Skills Specialist, and Cara Nicholson, Wellbeing Lead, Northampton School for Girls.

Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of post-16 learners is a core leadership responsibility, one that shapes everything from attendance and attainment to the culture your sixth form is known for. This session grounds you in the evidence on 16–19 mental health, explores strategies for resilience and stress management, and focuses on the systems that enable consistent, well-coordinated support across your whole sixth form.

By the end of this session you will:

  • have evidence-based strategies for supporting resilience, motivation and stress management
  • know how to support students effectively through the key pressure points of the academic year
  • have the foundations for a coherent, whole-sixth-form approach to wellbeing, including effective referral and multi-agency working


Before Session 8: Complete your self-review tool.

Speaker:
Cara Nicholson
Wellbeing Lead and Head of Psychology, Northampton School for Girls

Cara Nicholson is Wellbeing Lead and Head of Psychology at Northampton School for Girls. As part of her role, she has extensive experience developing whole-school and post-16 approaches to mental health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on resilience, early intervention and supporting students through periods of academic pressure. She works closely with students, families and external agencies to develop effective systems of support that enable young people to thrive.

Online peer coaching session | Tuesday 20 April 2027 | 90 minutes

Facilitated by: Claire Green, ASCL Post-16 and Skills Specialist.

You are now more than halfway through the programme, and the summer term - with its exams, destinations decisions and end-of-year pressures - is approaching. This is the moment to pause, take stock, and make sure your learning is working for you. As in Session 4, this is protected peer time; no new content, just honest conversation and structured reflection on what has shifted and what you want to prioritise before July.

By the end of this session you will:

  • have consolidated your learning from Sessions 5 to 7
  • have identified what you want to prioritise and strengthen before the programme closes
  • feel more connected and less isolated as you head into the pressures of the summer term

Before Session 9: Complete your self-review tool.

Webinar | Thursday 6 May 2027 | 90 minutes

Led by: Claire Green, ASCL Post-16 and Skills Specialist, Dale Willis, MY Great First Job, and Suzie Rees, from UCAS.

Where your students go next is one of the most visible measures of your sixth form’s success, and one of the most complex to lead well. This session covers the full breadth of post-18 pathways: the UCAS process in detail, the growing landscape of degree and higher apprenticeships, and how to build a progression guidance programme that serves every student, not just the most straightforward cases. We also look at destinations data requirements and how to track effectively.

By the end of this session you will:

  • have a thorough understanding of the UCAS process and where sixth form leaders make the biggest difference
  • be confident advising students across all post-18 pathways, including apprenticeships and employer routes
  • have the foundations for a progression guidance programme that is impactful rather than a compliance exercise


Before Session 10: Complete your self-review tool.

Speaker:
Dale Willis
Founder, My Great First Job CIC

Dale Willis is the founder of non-profit organisation "My Great First Job CIC". He works exclusively with 6th form and college students, supporting them as they navigate from education to employment.  Alongside in-school and online mentoring programmes, Dale delivers workshops in 6th Forms across the country on topics such as Degree Apprenticeships, LinkedIn, Personal Branding and How To Find Work Experience Opportunities.

Webinar | Wednesday 16 June 2027 | 90 minutes

Led by: Claire Green, ASCL Post-16 and Skills Specialist, and Susan Sharp, Trust Executive Director of Post 16

The culture of your sixth form is not accidental, it is built through the expectations you set and the way you respond when they are not met. This session is about leading that culture with consistency and confidence, from establishing high standards of conduct and independent study to managing the moments when things fall short, and building an environment where students are genuinely invested in their own success.

By the end of this session you will:

  • have a clear approach to establishing and sustaining high standards of conduct and academic commitment
  • be confident leading restorative conversations, student contracts and difficult conversations with parents
  • have practical tools for building a motivational, aspirational sixth form culture


Before Session 11: Complete your self-review tool.

Speaker:
Susan Sharp
Trust Executive Director of Post16

Susan is a Trust Executive Director of Post16, leading six successful Sixth Forms across the East Midlands. She has over 25 years’ experience of leading Sixth Forms and her passion is widening participation at HE.

In-person, Leicester | Tuesday 6 July 2027 | Full day

Led by: Claire Green, ASCL Post-16 and Skills Specialist, and Andrew Parkin, Principal, St Dominic’s Sixth Form College Harrow and Chair of the ASCL Sixth Form Advisory Group.

You started this programme in September ready to lead your sixth form more strategically. This final day is where that journey comes full circle. We evaluate outcomes across the year - progress, destinations, attendance, wellbeing and student voice - and use that evidence to build a clear, realistic development plan for 2027/28. We also take time to name what has shifted, what has been built, and what you are taking forward as a leader and as part of a peer network that does not have to end here.

By the end of this session you will:

  • have evaluated your sixth form’s outcomes across the year with clarity and rigour
  • have identified your key priorities for curriculum, staffing and CPD in 2027/28
  • leave with a clear sixth form development plan and the professional confidence to act on it

Speaker:
Andrew Parkin
Principal, St. Dominic’s Sixth Form College Harrow on the Hill

Andrew Parkin was educated at St John's RC Comprehensive School, Bishop Auckland and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington. He studied music at Durham (Hild/Bede) and Cambridge (Hughes) before starting his professional career in London at The St Marylebone Girls' School in 1995. Andrew went on to be deputy head at Sion Manning Girls' School in Kensington, and then St Augustine's High School in Westminster before being appointed as Principal at St. Dominic’s Sixth Form College in Harrow on the Hill, NW London in 2013, where he remains in post today. He has led St. Dominic’s through two recent Ofsted Inspections and a Catholic Schools Inspection, attaining a ‘grade 1’ in all areas on all occasions and it is now regarded as one of the most successful sixth form colleges in England. Andrew is a member of ASCL council and was Chair of the UCAS Advisory Council between 2018 and 2024. He is an organist and pianist and is a member of the BBC Symphony Chorus performing at a variety of London venues.

Every session is designed to give you something you can use immediately, and something that builds your thinking across the year. By the end of the programme you will:

  • lead with strategic clarity moving confidently between vision, culture and operational reality, and able to articulate your direction to governors, senior leaders, students and parents
  • understand the landscape as it applies to you with working knowledge of post-16 accountability, curriculum reform, funding, Ofsted expectations and destinations measures
  • think in systems, not silos, understanding how data, attendance, retention, wellbeing and destinations interact, so your decisions address root causes rather than isolated symptoms
  • strengthen your monitoring and intervention with practical approaches to academic tracking, early identification of underperformance and effective intervention, tested against your own context
  • lead confident conversations with students, parents, staff and senior leaders about expectations, progress and next steps, from a position of knowledge and authority
  • support your tutors to lead well with the tools to help tutors deliver consistent, purposeful post-16 personal development and pastoral programmes
  • navigate destinations with confidence, from UCAS to degree apprenticeships, building a progression programme that serves every student
  • shift from reactive to strategic developing the habits, identity and professional authority to lead proactively, not just manage what lands on your desk
  • reduce isolation and build lasting peer support as part of a trusted network of sixth form leaders providing honest dialogue, shared problem-solving and professional connection that extends beyond the programme
  • plan for the year ahead leaving with a clear, realistic sixth form development plan informed by data, student voice and current policy

This programme is for leaders at every stage of their post-16 journey. It will particularly benefit you if you are:

  • new to or aspiring towards a head of sixth form or post-16 leadership role
  • currently in post and looking to build confidence and clarity across the full scope of the role
  • an experienced sixth form leader wanting a purposeful refresher in specific areas of practice
  • someone who values peer learning, evidence-informed CPD and dedicated time to reflect and plan

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