Leadership Academy 2026-27

Are you interested in leadership professional learning? 

Please use this form to apply – Leadership Academy Application Form  – Fill in form. Please note that HT/Line Manager endorsement is required.

As part of the Leadership Academy offer we have the following programmes starting this session:

Aspiring to Middle Leadership

Middle Leaders Leading Change

Senior Leadership Pathway

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Aspiring to Middle Leadership (Education Scotland Programme facilitated by SBC

The AML programme is accessed online with additional facilitated sessions with SBC  

Leading their own learning, participants will: 

• increase their knowledge of recent and emerging research around the roles of middle leadership 

• enquire into their own strengths and areas for development as an aspiring or new middle leader 

• increase their knowledge and understanding of the roles of middle leadership and the skills and abilities required to carry out key aspects of these roles 

• increase their knowledge and understanding of an aspect of wellbeing, inclusion, equity or equalities, with a view to leading a change in this area. 

The programme starts with four short introductory activities including a self-evaluation activity (‘self-evaluation wheel’) which you can complete through your Reflective Journal. This will act as both a planning tool and a record, with spaces for reflections on your learning. Your Reflective Journal is just for you. If you wish to receive a certificate when you complete the programme, you will need to submit a Learning Summary. 

Programme Induction – Friday 25th September– Inspire Learning, Tweedbank 

Touchpoint Session – Friday 6th November – Inclusion, Wellbeing & Equalities – Doug Crabbe, Targeted Pupil Support Team 

Touchpoint Session – Friday 26th February – Middle Leadership in SBC – How to put your learning into practice  

Applying Your Learning – individual practice in school/setting  

Sharing Event – May 2027 

The introductory session will take you through the programme content, share the research that underpins the programme, and support you to start the process of planning your learning pathway, using the self-evaluation wheel to enquire into and identify your areas of strength and interest and areas for development. We will also explore how we will work as an SBC cohort and access SBC specific leadership support. 

You will then undertake individual, self-directed learning, using online self-directed Professional Learning Activities (PLAs), based on your completed self-evaluation wheel. 

A set of eight PLAs, each exploring one of the Roles of Middle Leadership identified in the research, is available. You should select two as a minimum. You can expect to spend 2-3 hours on each PLA. 

You should then select at least two PLAs from a list based on the Inclusion, Wellbeing and Equalities themes. You should base your selections on areas of interest, identified learning needs, school or setting improvement plans or an area you are leading on or are likely to lead on in the future. You might also consider any recent professional dialogue with your school leadership or manager, e.g., as part of your Professional Review and Development (PRD), and /or your professional standards, competences or code, e.g., the General Teaching Council (Scotland) (GTCS) Standard for Middle Leadership or the CLD Competent Practitioner Framework. 

Remember the importance of applying and integrating what you have learned online into your practice, or the practice of your wider setting. This is why we suggest 8-12 months for programme completion. This timeframe takes in completion of a minimum of four PLAs, time to apply your learning, and to identify any actual or potential impact on you, your learners or your colleagues. 

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Middle Leaders Leading Change (Education Scotland – facilitated by Scottish Borders Council) 

This programme is suitable for current Middle Leaders. 

This programme is structured around four pillars: 

• Self-awareness: develop awareness of individual areas of strength / development needs and how this awareness can inform improvements to leadership 

• Anti-racism:  develop an understanding of identity, privilege and power and how to actively encourage and celebrate diversity 

• Leadership of change: develop knowledge, understanding and confidence in the use of different models to lead and scaffold change 

• Coaching as a model of practice: enhance awareness and knowledge of coaching approaches for leadership and increase confidence in practising these. 

These themes are explored using self-directed professional learning activities (PLAs). There are six discrete PLAs that can be completed in any order to best suit participant needs. This allows participants to dip in and out of different areas of learning during the programme. 

MLLC offers opportunities for exploring research and reflecting on each of the four pillars. The learning has been carefully chosen to allow you to draw conclusions that will better equip you in your role of leading change. Although there is no set timeline, as a rough guide each of the PLAs can take between two and four hours with options for further reading. Past participants have tried to set aside time each month during term time to complete one of these PLAs. 

Once you have completed the PLAs, you are then encouraged to apply your learning as part of the programme.   

This is a flexible online programme consisting of five core self-directed professional learning activities (PLAs) and one optional. To complete the programme, you will undertake all 6 PLAs and submit a template related to your learning from the programme. 

• Self-awareness for middle leaders 

• Understanding middle leadership 

• Change Models 

• Using data to lead change 

• Engaging others in change  

Choice of: 

• Curriculum/CIC 

• Anti-Racism 

• Coaching  

Key Dates

Programme Induction – Friday 2nd October – Inspire Learning, Tweedbank – please note change of date

Touchpoint Session – Friday 30th October 2026

Touchpoint Session – Friday 29th January 2027

Applying Your Learning – individual practice in school/setting  

Sharing Event – May 2027

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Senior Leadership Pathway (Scottish Borders Council) 

This programme is aimed at those in any post/level who aspire to Headship 

The programme takes a full academic year to complete 

Phase 1 – Values Based Leadership (Columba 1400) – January – April  

Phase 2 – Leading an Inclusive School – May – July  

Phase 3 – Evidence Based Strategic Leadership – August – October  

Phase 4 – Project Based Learning – October – Dec