Middle Leaders
Middle leaders are key drivers in ensuring positive outcomes for all learners. Through working collaboratively with school leaders, members of their teams and partners, they devise and contribute to the school’s vision and values, ensuring that the strategic direction of the school is communicated effectively with all stakeholders.
Leading from the middle and middle leadership can be understood in several different ways which apply to all practitioners at all stages of their career. However, middle leaders can be described as those who have a specified leadership remit beyond the classroom and are provided with resources to carry this out. Such roles might include – but are not limited to – class teacher, depute head teacher, principal teacher or head of faculty.
Leadership Activities:
- Leading in a working or task group
- Leading an aspect of:
- Planning learning which is inter-disciplinary or cross-sector
- Assessment and moderation
- Cluster leadership opportunities
- Self-evaluation and critical reflection process
- Experiential, action or enquiry based learning
- Professional dialogue with colleagues, other professionals, parents and learners
- Learning about aspects of the curriculum or pedagogical practice
- Practitioner enquiry/action research
- Critical analysis of reading, learning and impact on professional practice
- Peer support – coaching and mentoring others (i.e. Probationers)
- Secondments, acting posts and placements
Leadership Opportunities for Middle Leaders |
Description |
Next Steps |
This programme is run in partnership with East Lothian. Programme for both PTs and aspiring PTs. It is recommended that applicants have successfully completed the First Steps into Leadership programme before applying for this programme. |
See Coaching Framework for all opportunities |
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Inspire Cluster Leaders |
Opportunities to develop leadership skills in leading a project across a cluster |
Education Scotland are delivering engagement days for aspiring middle leaders. The aim of the days is to explore some of the current research and literature around middle leadership and to facilitate the participants in identifying the skills that they need to take the next step in their leadership journeys. |
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This programme is designed to develop confidence in the use of coaching within middle leadership, encourage reflection upon the key aspects of the role and further develop the use of an enquiring stance when planning and leading change. |
University Opportunities
This can be a standalone programme or a preparatory and progressive step towards the Into Headship element of the Specialist Qualification for Headship Masters pathway. 60 credits at SCQF level 11 with the University of Edinburgh. |
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Undertake Masters level learning which will enable practitioners to embed high quality learning and teaching across the school. |