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School & trust leaders

The three strands of leadership

Research
19/11/2025

This research sets out a holistic, sector-wide approach to leadership in the English education system – shared principles which can then be implemented and adapted according to structure, phase and wider context.

The report identifies three interdependent leadership strands essential for school and trust success:

  • Governance leadership provides strategic vision, accountability, and external perspective, serving as guardian of organisational purpose beyond immediate pressures.
  • Educational leadership translates strategic vision into operational reality, focusing on pedagogy, curriculum, and school improvement while managing daily institutional operations.
  • Business leadership ensures operational excellence through finance, HR, estates, IT, procurement, and compliance - increasingly recognised as mission-critical.

The report is the result of a valued partnership between three national organisations representing the core strands of leadership across the English education system: the National Governance Association (NGA), the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL).

Research overview

This report aims to:

  1. Examine the distinct roles and responsibilities of the three leadership strands
  2. Highlight their critical interdependencies and the benefits of cohesive leadership
  3. Analyse the common barriers and pitfalls that cause leadership fragmentation
  4. Explore interventions to foster joined-up leadership

The three strands of leadership offers a liberating vision; it broadens accountability and frees leaders to focus on the areas where they can add the most value, helping to tackle issues with workload and wellbeing.

A collaborative checklist accompanies the report to help schools and trusts evaluate current practices.

The three strands of leadership report

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Three strands collaborative checklist

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  • “This report reinforces why collaboration across governance, education, and business leadership is not only important but fundamental to a well-functioning system ... We urge boards, executive leaders, and school business professionals to engage with this work together, recognising governance as an equal partner and critical ally in shaping sustainable, high-quality provision.”

    Emma Balchin, Chief Executive, NGA

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