27th January 2026

Bridging the gap: preparing for the jump from middle to senior leadership

Mide Ola-Said

You have climbed the mountain of middle leadership. Your team understands what is expected of them, roles and responsibilities are clear, and meetings are purposeful and focused. Colleagues feel able to contribute meaningfully to shared goals. You can see the impact of your leadership in the development of your team and, most importantly, in the outcomes for the pupils in your care. So, what comes next? 

For many middle leaders, the next step is a move into senior leadership. You may already have a sense of what senior leaders do day to day from observing your own SLT. But effective senior leadership goes well beyond visible tasks and operational responsibilities. It requires a shift in mindset, influence, and perspective—particularly when you begin to lead whole-school priorities and contribute as part of a senior leadership team. 

If you are considering making that jump, here are three key areas to focus on to ensure you are ready when the opportunity arises.

1. Know what great looks like—and grow in that direction

Strong leadership development starts with a clear understanding of what excellence looks like. At Ark, we believe effective leadership consistently draws on three broad principles, that underpin our approach to helping leaders. They are, ‘drive ambitious outcomes, nurture your people, and lead with respect.’ 

What matters is having a clear framework that helps you identify your strengths, surface development areas, and refine the skills that matter most. At Ark, our Leadership Rubric provides a shared language and structure for reflection, feedback, and growth, supporting leaders at every stage of their journey. 

2. Think beyond yourself: lead as part of a team

Senior leadership is not about individual performance; it is about collective effectiveness. The most successful schools are led by senior leadership teams that are cohesive, focused, and productive. 

As a prospective senior leader, it is essential to recognise that you are part of a larger whole. This means prioritising the needs of the team over personal agendas, building trust, demonstrating humility, and engaging constructively with others. Being a reliable, positive contributor to SLT culture is critical. 

3. Coach—and be coached

Coaching is one of the most powerful tools for leadership development. This might involve coaching to improve classroom practice or leadership coaching that empowers individuals to identify their own solutions rather than relying on directive approaches. High-quality coaching accelerates development, sharpens performance, and builds sustainable leadership capacity – often more effectively than any other single intervention. 

At Ark, we embed coaching throughout our leadership programmes, including initiatives such as LEAD, a unique 18-month leadership journey designed by Ark for vice principals who aspire to headship in the next three years. We’re proud that 75% of Ark’s current principals are homegrown. 

Moving from middle to senior leadership is a significant step, but with the right preparation, support, and mindset, it can be a highly rewarding one. At Ark, we are committed to developing leaders who are ready not just for the next role, but for the long-term work of improving schools and transforming pupils’ lives for the better.