News12th December 2025

Ark’s future primary leaders celebrate graduation at EdCity

Graduates of Ark’s Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD) programme have celebrated the conclusion of their course with an awards ceremony at EdCity.

Ark Learning InstituteArk Priory Primary AcademyArk Tindal Primary AcademyArk Academy

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The primary cohort of Ark’s LEAD programme celebrate their graduation

LEAD is an extended professional development programme designed for vice principals (VPs) in the Ark network who aspire to become headteachers in the next three years. 

The 18-month journey offers two routes for senior leaders – one for primary and the other for secondary. 

The most recent cohort of leaders came from Ark primary schools in Birmingham and London. Before the awards presentation, graduates  shared their reflections on the programme with their peers,  members of Ark’s management team and chair of the trustees, Tina Alexandrou. 

Lucy Chisnall from Ark Priory Primary Academy said, “For any leader with aspirations of progression into headship, LEAD provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to be set up for success. Its design gives you a unique combination of experiences across different areas of school leadership.” 

Ark Tindal Primary Academy’s Adam Rand said, “What sets LEAD apart is the depth of investment from across the network. Having senior leaders, regional directors and experienced heads give their time so generously sends a powerful message about how much Ark values developing its future leaders.”   

Gary Geerlings from Ark Academy Primary added, “The LEAD Programme has been both empowering and transformative. It stands out as the most enriching professional learning I have undertaken – and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to any leader seeking to develop their practice.”  

School Leadership Development Lead – and previous LEAD graduate – Mide Ola-Said, said, “We’re proud that 75 percent of Ark’s current principals are homegrown. 

“LEAD offers our aspiring principals practical examples of key leadership techniques along with the opportunity to learn from both internal and external models of educational excellence.”  

Other highlights included a tour of the network’s primaries in Hastings and London, and spending time at the Ofsted Outstanding-rated Charles Dickens primary school in Southwark.  

Ark’s LEAD programme

The LEAD programme is central to Ark’s commitment to investing in aspiring leaders, developing future heads, and supporting talent mobility across the network. 

Successful applicants are matched with an existing principal as a coach. The programme begins with a two-day residential and includes six guided school visits to exemplary Ark schools – as well as schools outside the network – to explore topics such as planning, curriculum, behaviour and culture, teacher development and leading SEND. 

A series of virtual operations masterclasses also strengthen participants’ knowledge of school management, covering key systems, processes, policies and best practices on subjects including parents and community, governance, finance and HR. 

All graduating participants receive interview support from Ark for their headship applications, including mock interviews and feedback from the recruitment team.