Is leadership a race?

Is Leadership a Race? is applicable to leaders old and new, of all levels of experience and expertise. It is a book that will support people considering becoming a leader, who are new to leadership or who are established leaders. If you are undertaking a national professional qualification, then this book will serve as the ideal aide-memoire. Equally, if you just want a referral point that will serve as a touchstone for guidance and reassurance, then this is the book for you.

The focus of this book is deliberately sharp and tight, with consideration predominantly given to the following seven areas: know who you are; understand what leadership means; know and respect your context; know, respect and support your people; positively drive behaviour; focus on the curriculum; and build your culture. If you want a book on leadership written by someone who has real experience of the job, then look no further.

Sam Strickland is the principal of a large all-through school and has helped to guide its GCSE results from the bottom 20% nationally to the top 20%, and A-level outcomes to the top 5% nationally. Sam began his teaching career as a history teacher in Bedfordshire having completed his PGCE in secondary history at the University of Cambridge under Christine Counsell. His career quickly accelerated and he became head of history and Classics. He then moved on to become a lead professional and worked for a SCITT consortium. During his time as an assistant headteacher, he had responsibility for the sixth form and led a post-16 consortium arrangement. Sam also served as a vice principal, where he directly oversaw student care, the sixth form and the curriculum, and served as the safeguarding lead for an entire trust. Sam has served as an associate principal, with GCSE and A-level results under his tenure receiving commendation from the DfE, Nick Gibb and the SSAT. The organiser of researchED Northampton and author of Education Exposed, Education Exposed 2, The Behaviour Manual and They Don't Behave for Me, he is a leading voice in the current conversation in education. He has had educational resources and research published, he regularly delivers courses and keynotes nationally and he has served as a lead facilitator for a variety of NPQs.