Category: Leader

Apple Learning Coach

As an ALC, teacher leaders will:

  • Act as a coach and mentor to educators using the iPad and other digital tools
  • Support staff to develop their teaching practices using digital technologies.
  • Develop and lead professional learning within your school or cluster.

 To become an ALC, candidates must complete the certified ALC programme:

  • Self-paced online modules (Units 1–6) and reflective portfolio
  • Two days of virtual workshops led by Apple Professional Learning Specialists
  • Final Coaching Portfolio, including a Coaching Action Plan tailored to your setting.
  • Total CLPL is up to 43.5 hours.

To be considered for the ALC programme, candidates must:

  • Have Apple Teacher recognition
  • Be willing to coach at least one educator in a primary, secondary, or local authority setting
  • Have HT / leadership approval

To find out more or apply: coaching

  1. Attend a virtual info session (optional but recommended)
  2. Gain approval from HT / leadership
  3. Apply online > Apply to Apple Learning Coach – Apple Education Community

 

Leadership Programmes 2025-6

Leadership Programmes 2025-26

Applications for the 25/26 Leadership Programmes are now open.

Further information on each of the programmes can be found on Business World – contact clpl@scotborders.gov.uk for an application form.

The Aspiring to Middle Leadership and Middle Leaders Leading Change are Education Scotland online programmes. We will work through these as an SBC cohort with a face to face induction and touchpoint sessions.

Fully funded places available on Open University Microcredentials

The OU in Scotland is currently offering some fully funded places on our Microcredential courses starting in June/July 2024. These courses run from 10 – 12 weeks and are designed for people looking to gain new skills to help advance their careers. The courses are delivered online via distance learning which allows you to fit in time for learning alongside work and life commitments. They can give you and your staff practical skills that can be immediately utilised in the workplace. Offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, the courses will also give you the chance to learn alongside people in a wide range of sectors and roles and share knowledge and experience.

The courses on offer are:

  • Agile Leadership and Management
  • Business Management: Marketing Principles and Practice
  • Business Management: Improving Organisational Practice
  • Business Management: People Management and Leadership
  • Business Management: Project Management
  • Business Management: Fundamentals of Management Accounting
  • Business Management: Financial Accounting for Non-Financial Roles
  • Climate Change: Transforming Your Organisation for Sustainability
  • Cyber Security Operations
  • Mental Health: Working with Children and Young People
  • Mentoring and Coaching in Professional Learning
  • Python Programming
  • Teacher Development: Embedding Mental Health in the Curriculum

More information about the courses and the application form can be found at https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/choose/scotland-micro. The deadline for applications is 19th May 2024.

Catholic School Leadership Programme

Catholic School Leadership Programme

The Scottish Catholic Education Service and the Archdiocese of St. Andrews & Edinburgh have been working in partnership with Scottish Borders Council to develop an integrated approach to leadership development for aspiring and present Catholic school leaders through the formation of a Catholic School Leadership programme.

This network will offer a framework for identifying, nurturing and developing future and present Catholic leaders within Scottish Borders Council and will feature two aspects: accompaniment and encounter.

  1. Accompaniment Sessions (dates agreed by Facilitators locally)

 There will be 4 on-line accompaniment sessions which will be facilitated by middle and senior leaders in Scottish Borders schools. At these sessions you will use materials prepared by the Scottish Catholic Education Service as part of their Good Shepherd Leadership Pathway programme to consider middle leadership in a Catholic school.  The sessions will involve the Facilitators directing you towards reading and use of video clips to encourage discussion, sharing good practice and reflection on the role of the middle leader in a Catholic school.

  1. Diocesan Encounter Sessions

These in-person sessions will involve all the participants taking part in the Catholic School Leadership programme from across the Archdiocese of St. Andrews & Edinburgh and will be hosted by the RE Advisors.  These sessions will involve a presentation from a Catholic leader, spiritual activities followed by an opportunity to network with colleagues across the Archdiocese.

 Session 1   The role of the Catholic Middle Leader: 22nd October 2024 4pm – 5:30pm

 Session 2   Spiritual leadership in a Catholic school: 24th February 2025 4pm – 5:30pm

Session 3   Relational leadership: 28th May 2025 4pm – 6pm

This network is intended to be supportive and encouraging.  The framework will offer colleagues opportunities to connect and reflect. There will be no formal activity and we hope no implication for workload.

We know that Scottish Borders Council has excellent leadership programmes to support those considering all types of leadership, in both the denominational and non-denominational sector.  This programme is intended to meet the needs specifically for Catholic school leaders. It would therefore be important to note that this offering is intended to support those who meet the requirements to be appointed (at the appropriate time) to the post of a middle leader in a Catholic school.

If you’d like more information on this new programme, please get in touch with Margaret Barton, the Secondary School RE Advisor at margaret.barton@staned.org.uk or Melissa Gavan, the Primary School RE Advisor at melissa.gavan@staned.org.uk

Recruitment to Into Headship Programme 2024 – 2025

Recruitment to Into Headship Programme 2024 – 2025

We are pleased to confirm that recruitment for the next cohort of the Into Headship programme will be open from Monday 29th January until Friday 8th March 2024.

Please note – we are aware that the Education Scotland website states 29 March as the closing date. This is the date that Local Authorities must confirm all successful applicants to Education Scotland and our recruitment process has to take place prior to this.

Into Headship

Into Headship is Scotland’s national programme for teachers with relevant leadership experience, who are aspiring to a headteacher post within the next 2-3 years.  The purpose of the Into Headship programme is to further develop the skills, knowledge and understanding, professional values, abilities and commitment for participants to move into headship with the confidence to lead a dynamic school community. Successful completion of the programme leads to the award of the Standard for Headship which is a mandatory requirement for all newly appointed permanent headteachers in publicly funded schools in Scotland.

The updated national guidance document will be made available within the coming weeks.

Application Process

Applicants should submit a completed form, and an endorsement form from their line manager to CLPL@scotborders.gov.uk

For entry on to this programme, local authorities should complete an interview process with applicants to confirm that they can demonstrate appropriate experience and professional learning in leadership, relevant to local context.

Application and endorsement forms will be available from:  https://professionallearning.education.gov.scot/learn/programmes/into-headship/

Programme Funding

It is anticipated that funding to support the fees will continue for the 2024 cohort, however this is subject to the outcome of the budget bill process in Scottish Parliament and subsequently Scottish Ministers’ agreement.

Travelling expenses are not included as part of the funding.

Aspiring Leaders Senior Leaders Middle Leaders

 

Into Headship – Applications Opening Soon

The Into Headship programme is for GTCS-registered teachers aspiring to the post of headteacher, who are likely to be successful within the next 2-3 years.

If you would like to find out more about the Into Headship programme we will be holding an online information session on 24 January at 4:30pm.

Why not come along and hear about the application process, find out more information about the course and hear from past participants. We will be joined by colleagues from SEIC Local Authorities, Education Scotland and Edinburgh University.

Please contact CLPL@scotborders.gov.uk to receive the joining instructions.