BEING A SYSTEM LEADER

A programme led by Alice Gregson and Sian Hampton OBE

September 2026 – March 2027

A programme for leaders who want to explore what it means to be a system leader in today’s context. The programme will deepen your understanding and practice of leadership that strengthens connection and enables improvement and impact across the whole system.

“Systems thinking is a discipline for seeing wholes. It is a framework for seeing interrelationships rather than things, for seeing ‘patterns of change’ rather than ‘static snapshots.” ~ Peter Senge

The programme is led by Alice Gregson, experienced cross-sector leader and former CEO of a national membership organisation for academy trust leaders, and Sian Hampton OBE, experienced educationalist and former CEO of a Midlands based multi-phase academy trust for over a decade. Individuals joining the programme will benefit from Alice and Sian’s combined system leadership experience alongside a range of inputs from a diverse mix of international, cross-sector guest contributors.

Programme outline

A detailed programme (including dates and content structure) will be shared with individuals expressing an interest in the programme via email. The broad structure is detailed below and will include expert inputs from system leaders across sectors, including some international perspectives.

    • 2 in-person days (in September and March) at a venue in the Midlands area
    • 3 online half-days (in October, January and February)
    • 1 in-person full day cross-sector learning exchange (in November)

The programme also includes access to pre-programme materials and a post-programme session with one of the programme leads to reflect on learning implementation once the programme concludes. There will also be a helpful complimentary takeaway from the programme for use with your organisation – details of which will be provided within the detailed programme description.

The unique benefits of joining the programme include:

Developing you as a system leader

    • An opportunity to consider how your work as a leader contributes to system-wide improvement and explore how you might further build on this
    • An opportunity to reflect on how you can further develop your influence and contribution at a system level, supporting you to grow and diversify your impact as a leader
    • Access to a peer group of system leaders alongside experts in their field from across sectors and countries
    • Access to tailored materials (papers, case studies, presentations) to aid deep reflection alongside ideas and practice sharing

Developing system leadership potential within your organisation

    • An opportunity for your Board or Governing Body and wider organisation to learn from the ideas, reflection and learning you will bring back from the programme. You will activate wider system leadership potential across your organisation as that learning is shared and embedded
    • An opportunity for your organisation to show demonstrable support of system-wide improvement and connection, evidencing how your organisation is actively contributing to a system-led approach
    • An opportunity for your organisation to support and invest in your ongoing CPD as a leader

Unlocking leadership potential that contributes to a thriving and flourishing system

    • An opportunity that recognises the important role leaders have in shaping the system they wish to see and provides the time, space and support necessary to consider the leader’s role in the wider system and the impact and influence they can have on its ongoing development
    • An opportunity that is developed not only with individuals in mind, but how those on the programme can also help to unlock system leadership potential in those around them, thus growing system leadership capacity and confidence
    • A programme that is independent and led by people who have worked within and across systems and sits separately to (but stays cognisant of) government led initiatives

Costs and registering your interest

The programme cost will be £1990 per person (payable upon acceptance of a place). To register your interest so we can send you further details about the programme, please email alice@elevatingleadership.co.uk by 27th March 2026.