CEO Programme (Code: C1655)
BackThis programme is for CEOs in the Further Education and Training sector in England, co-designed and built from a foundation in cutting-edge executive education and ground-breaking research.
Pricing options
£1,100 for Further Education providers in England.
Upcoming
Subsidised Places
For Department for Education (DfE) funded courses there is a limited number of places offered to participants fully subsided. The fully subsidised places are fully funded by the DfE, the participant and / or their provider pay £0. These places are offered to ensure greater diversity on high quality CPD. To qualify the participant must either:
- Consider themself to have a disability.
- Come from black or minority ethnic community.
- Work in an organisation with an annual turnover of less than £500,000.
Eligible participants can book their place via the booking system. Any questions please contact leadership@etfoundation.co.uk
Who is this for?
Important Note: only Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in the Further Education (FE) and Skills sector who have been invited to book on by ETF may book a place. Applications for this cohort are now closed. If you would like to register your interest for the next cohort please do so here.
Training aim
This programme will be developed in close collaboration with our delivery partner and will help to build resilience and capability within the FE sector's leadership as well as developing confident strategic thinkers who can work with complexity, ambiguity and with multiple stakeholders.
Outcomes
The CEO Programme will help build individual, college-wide and system-wide leadership capacity through:
- Understanding the adaptive challenges facing the college and the sector
- Enhancing the ability to work with conflict and uncertainty
- Generating insights and new perspectives on key challenges and opportunities – including the role of Artificial Intelligence in Further Education
- Deepening self-awareness and individual leadership impact
- Enhancing financial acumen and ability in leading strategic finance
- Deepening awareness of individual leadership impact
- Understanding the process of building networks of action
- Supporting systems-thinking and systems-leadership
- Providing space for reflection and supporting an approach of reflective practice and continuous learning
Length
The programme includes two core phases:
1. GatenbySanderson Development Centre – Autumn 2025
- A short pre-programme questionnaire to identify leadership goals
- Psychometric assessments and a 360-degree feedback process
- Two individual coaching conversations to explore leadership strengths, challenges and aspirations
- A confidential development report aligned to the ETF Professional Standards for Principals and CEOs in the FE and Skills sector
2. Residential at Saïd Business School – 2 to 6 February 2026
This in-person, week-long residential is delivered at Oxford Saïd Business School. It includes:
- Expert-led teaching on strategy, finance, systems leadership and organisational culture
- Peer-to-peer learning and facilitated group discussions
- Time to step away from day-to-day demands and focus on development and strategic thinking
Accommodation and meals are included. Travel to Oxford is not covered.
Entry Requirements
This course is open only to CEOs designated as the Chief Accounting Officer for their organisation and who have been invited by ETF to book a place. Applications for this cohort are now closed. If you would like to register your interest for the next cohort please do so here.
ETF are unable to offer any refunds for those who have booked a space and withdraw or fail to attend.
Contact us
If this course is not currently available at a suitable date/location, please register your interest and we will let you know about new events as they are announced.
If you have any questions, please contact:
T: 0800 0 831 830
E: enquiries@etfoundation.co.uk
