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"A really valuable learning curve for teaching staff of any discipline!"

Julie Jones, Beacon Hill High School.  Participant of the Leadership Placement Programme - 2003

Leadership trainees teaching their students about rocket physics
The leadership placement programme will introduce new, exciting and highly motivating approaces to management and leadership issues as well as developing multi-faceted leadership skills.

  • The work in the USA will enable reflection within an education system that will provide an opportunity to take an outside view of the existing practices within the UK.
  • Teachers will be able to compare and contrast elements of learning about leadership in the USA with their local understanding.
  • New approaches and dimensions to leadership can then be applied back at home.

This programme includes:

  • A visit to Houston. During this visit, teachers will have the opportunity to visit local American elementary, middle or high schools, receive input from educational leadership specialists from Rice University and engage with the educational and motivational expertise of NASA's Johnson Space Centre

  • A weekend workshop in the UK pior to the visit

ISSET has been involved in teacher and student education programmes
in Houston since 2000.


Houston is the largest city in southern Texas, home to NASA's Johnson Space Centre
Houston is a fascinating city within which to carry out the work. It is the fourth largest city in the USA, with a population that is approximately:
40% Hispanic Americans
30% black Americans
20% white Americans
10% drawn from a variety of races.
It has both inner city schools and suburban schools, including dual language schools.

Houston has many of the problems and concerns of a very large multi-cultural inner city, whilst also having great optimism that these concerns can and are being overcome by inclusive policies and programmes. Houston and Rice University have achieved national acclaim for their work in narrowing the achievement gap between majority and minority ethnic groups.

Houston also offers the opportunity to take advantage of the inspirational and highly motivating space programme that is based at NASA’s ‘Johnson Space Centre’, the home of Mission Control and astronaut training.

Houston Study Visit


Observe and partner in teaching at Houston schools

School Observation & School District Input :-

  • Behaviour management
  • Attendance & punctuality
  • School ethos
  • Use of assessment information
  • Tracking student progress
  • Use of ICT
  • Wider educational development
  • Equal opportunities
  • Progression through planning
  • Personal responsibility
  • Working with ethnic minorities
  • Setting high standards

Visit Rice University, one of the finest US educational institutions

Rice University :-

  • The achievement gap between majority & minority ethnic groups
  • Focusing on achievement of ethnic minorities
  • ‘No Child Left Behind’ programme
  • Importance of teams and team building exercise at ‘Houston Museum of Natural Science’

Johnson Space Centre and Aerospace Industry :-

  • How to inspire students
  • The importance of personal goals
  • High achievement for all
  • Preparing for a world of global partnership and
    advanced technological communication

Explore space in the classroom at NASA's Johnson Space Centre

Mentoring for :-

  • Individual difficulties
  • Develop team ethos
  • Setting goals
  • Comparison of US and UK approaches
  • Career Entry Profiles
  • Personal objectives & action plans

Online virtual community and support


The nightime skyline of Houston, Texas, a major city with diverse population and teaching needs
  • February half-term
  • Easter holidays
  • October half-term

For further information, please contact:

Julie Woodcock , ISSET
Tel: 02920 710295
E-mail: jwoodcock@isset.org