Monitoring has been a key element of the authority's support for new headteachers and a commitment to how much they are valued by Bedfordshire. The scheme has been in place since the early 1990s and at its inception was 'owned' and run by headteachers.

This is still the case, hence the headline 'for Heads, by Heads, with Heads.' Partnerships are arranged by members of a 'Headteacher Mentoring Steering Group', working on a Learning Community basis. Thus it is likely that a new head will be approached regarding mentoring by another headteacher within their Learning Community, serving as a representative from the main steering group.

The Steering Group is made up of cross phase Headteacher representative Area Support Officer and the HBS CPD Consultancy Manager.

For the first time substantive headteachers, funding will be drawn down from the 2500 Headteacher Induction grant available for the first three years of Headship. The cost of a mentor over a twelve month period is 600.

There are monies provided from the Education Development Plan to cover the cost of mentoring for Acting Headteachers and those who are in their second or third headship, but new to a Bedfordshire headship.

The County currently has a list of over 40 trained mentors, each with over three years of headship experience. New headteachers are asked to select three names from this list and the steering group representatives negotiate a mentor partner on the mentee's behalf. Bedfordshire is currently working with the Eastern Affiliated Centre in Cambridge to deliver the mentoring scheme to Headteacher Induction Programme recipients.

The scheme is evaluated at the end of the partnership by a form completed by the mentee. However, the partnerships are monitored more frequently by telephone and through informal enquiries by members of the Steering Group, as well as by the School Improvement Advisory team.

Key contacts:
Steering Group – Frances Godfrey, Headteacher, Leeden Lower School.
Tel: (01234) 300100

School Improvement Team – Judy Ruff
CPD Consultancy Manager, Chris Gill