The Steve Sinnott Fellowships focus on developing outward facing schools whose aim is to build up the social confidence of young people. In many cases the results have been amazing and innovative, boosting the self efficacy both of the young people involved and their teachers.

The LfL network hosted a lunchtime seminar where fellows presented their projects, this is a selection:

 Phil Arnold, Reddish Vale Technology College, Stockport - download 

Phil Avery, Bohunt School, Liphook - download

Wendy Parker, Northumberland Catholic Extended School Partnership - download

Carl Ward, Sutherland Business and Enterprise College - download

The event demonstrated the positive impact such projects had on young people. This can be seen from the accounts given by the Fellows themselves. They also showed something else and that is that strong and positive teacher self-efficacy, and leadership were both essential to the projects and that the projects reinforced these qualities. Their stories trigger rich reflection on what can be learnt from the Fellowships for developing teacher leadership.

Steve Sinnott was General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers who died tragically and unexpectedly in 2008. In memory of his commitment to making a difference to the life chances of children from socially deprived backgrounds the then Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, gave £1.5m to establish the Fellowships. The Fellowships Website is www.outwardfacingschools.org.uk.