Women's Leadership Network – News
2010 report on WLN and LSN research findings now available - our LSIS-funded research findings and recommendations, based on eight regional discussions and 470 on-line respondents’ views, are now available click here
WLN’s third inspiring annual conference, run jointly with the NBP, attracted over 210 participants and was a huge success. To read about it, click here
'Climbing the greasy pole to the glass ceiling' – latest percentages of female principals in England click here
First mentoring programme now under way!
We know from research and members’ feedback that women value mentoring for career progression. The WLN has joined forces with the Black Leadership Initiative to launch a pilot mentoring programme. 16 women have been placed with 16 experienced mentors – we’ve been able to tap into the BLI's extensive pool of experienced mentors, mainly senior managers and principals. Some of the comments from mentors and mentees:
“Effective mentoring is about understanding the values, aspirations and circumstances of a mentee so that I can adopt the right approach and tone to be of service; especially important is building belief and self confidence and guiding them to develop their skills and expertise themselves so that they can understand what their own ‘personal capital’ is and know how to use this.”
“This is my first experience of a formal mentoring scheme and I have found it really positive and
motivating - it gives a window of opportunity to think about my career and aspirations from a
different perspective and I am really glad I got involved.”
“The mentoring programme is a good way of supporting colleagues and provides a ‘safe space’ in
which issues can be explored and for reflection and learning to take place. Having the right mentor
linked with the appropriate mentee at the start of the relationship is key to the whole process being effective.”
Women in FE and Skills Sector Honoured
Congratulations to the women in the further education and skills sector who received honours in the 2010 New Year’s Honours List.
Jackie Fisher Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire Principal and Chief Executive Newcastle College
Jill Westerman, CBE Principal and Chief Executive, Northern College for Residential Adult Education
Jeanette Dawson, OBE Principal, Bishop Burton College
Mair Jones, OBE for services to further education in Wales
Joanna Tait-Lovatt, OBE former principal, Bishop Auckland College
Elizabeth Walton, OBE former principal, William Morris Sixth Form, London
Pauline Waterhouse, OBE Principal, Blackpool and the Fylde College
Judith Boardman, OBE chair of governors, City of Westminster College
Joan Brier, OBE chair of corporation, Rotherham College of Arts and Technology
Pauline Cocker, OBE Former chair of corporation, Birkenhead Sixth Form College
Margaret Forisky, OBE college/school development officer, West Lothian College
Barbara Hamzawi, OBE JP personal assistant, University for Industry
Alexandra Henderson, OBE former chair of corporation, Hull Group of Colleges
Pauline Hitt, OBE former head of department, Isle of Wight College
Margaret Mineham, curriculum manager, Cleveland College of Art and Design.
2010 press coverage
Half of FE women encounter barriers to career progression
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6048046
Female heads chopped more swiftly when colleges merge
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6042456
2009 press coverage
Do women lack the confidence to go for the top jobs?
Why close the book on half of our potential?
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