Educational Specialist Leaders are current school-based leaders able to provide exceptional support to schools in need within their specialist areas. ESLs have a history of providing SLE, LLE, and/or NLE support through either the Forest Learning Alliance or Wellington College Learning Alliance and have gone through a selection, assessment, and monitoring process before they are allowed to deliver support to schools.

Educational Specialist Leaders (ESLs) are outstanding middle and senior leaders who have the skills to support individuals or teams in similar positions in other schools.

The ESL role is about:

• Improving outcomes for children
• Leaders supporting leaders
• Drawing on specialist knowledge and areas of expertise
• Being flexible to meet the needs of supported schools
• Sustainability – helping schools improve their own leadership capacity

ESLs will:

• Have excellent interpersonal skills
• Be able to work sensitively and collaboratively with others
• Have a commitment to outreach work
• Understand what outstanding leadership practice in their area of specialism looks like and help other leaders to achieve it in their own context.

System leadership supports the sharing and development of outstanding, innovative practice, which can benefit both schools in a partnership.

When we receive a request for ESL support, we will review the needs of the school requesting support and match an ESL with the appropriate area of expertise and capacity to offer the support.

If you would like to speak to us about the School-to-School Support we can offer please contact us on info@forestlearningalliance.org