WOMEN teachers are learning how to get ahead.

Bolton Learning Partnership and Alliance for Learning teamed up to host a lunch and workshop recently and will putting on a CPD ­— continuous professional development session ­— for women who are aspiring to senior leadership roles, including headship. The aim is to empower women in Bolton and throughout Greater Manchester to reach and succeed in their educational careers at the highest level.

This comes after the department for education workforce census showed that woman account for more than 60 per cent of the profession in secondary schools and more than 85 per cent in primary school, but only account for 37 per cent of secondary school heads and 71 per cent of headteachers in primary schools.

The first event was held earlier this month to coincide with International Women's Day with a number of speakers.

Lisa Fathers, Director of 'The Alliance for Learning' Teaching School and Partnerships inspired women to be "10 per cent " braver, Alison Oliver, Chief Executive Officer of Youth Sport Trust, and Dr Sandeep Ranote, Medical Director of Northwest Boroughs Healthcare NHSFT shared their stories of how they reached their positions as senior leaders within their organisations in “Two women, two very different stories.”

Tony Purcell, Executive Lead of Bolton Learning Partnership said: “At Bolton Learning Partnership, we are keen to encourage and empower more women to take up positions as senior leaders within Education. We have female leaders within our schools who are absolutely inspirational, and through supporting a network of shared learning and providing CPD opportunities, we aim to equip those aspiring to positions of senior leadership including headship with the courage, the knowledge and the tools to reach this position.”

Bolton Learning Partnership is made-up of 28 secondary schools and colleges working together, alongside Bolton Council to support educational improvement.

Lisa added: “Collaboration is at the heart of our work as a Multi Academy Trust and a large teaching school and we really enjoy working closely with our Bolton schools and colleagues.

"We are proud of the ‘Women into Leadership’ work we have done connected with the ‘WomenED’ agenda in terms of specific CPD and coaching female leaders and of course and our work around Girl’s Football.

"Breaking gender stereotypes and challenging bias has never been more important.”