The Magic in the Space Between: How a unique mentoring programme is transforming women's leadership

Responding to a challenge posed by state and independent school leaders, Ian Wigston put together a team of experienced leaders from business, the public sector and the military to enable nearly a hundred women to explore their potential for school leadership.
The Magic in the Space Between explores how mentoring, in tandem with a variety of innovative community projects undertaken by the women, provided a platform for each of them to develop a range of skills which saw more than a quarter achieve promotion within two years.
As well as telling the stories of individual success, frequently challenging their own assumptions, the book includes contributions from former Schools Minister David Laws, actor Juliet Stevenson and Commodore Mel Robinson, one of the most senior women in the Navy.
The book concludes with proposals to address the continuing problem of building a pipeline of future women’s leadership in education.

Ian Wigston is a co-founder of Bright Field Consulting. Established 10 years ago, Bright Field has been recognised as a pioneer in delivering innovative and transformational coaching and leadership development programmes for school leaders and aspiring leaders. Bright Field's clients now extend from Australasia via North America to Europe and Africa. Originally a banker, Ian has worked as an independent consultant for more than 25 years. He is a trustee of two multi-academy trusts, as well as a trustee of the Church of England Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. With Hilary Wigston, Ian is the co-author of The Magic in the Space Between (2021).