The International Centre for Educational Leadership (ICEL) at the University of Greater Manchester has established itself, both nationally and internationally, as a centre of excellence for school improvement, leadership and system reform in education. The ICEL positions itself in the middle of that triangle whose vertices are comprised of policy, research and practice. Its core functions include research and development; consultancy; running a network of laboratory schools; and the delivery of high-quality doctoral and masters’ degree programmes in educational leadership.