Category: leadership

Leadership Academy 2026-27

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 

Education Scotland PL Offers Update

PLL programmes currently open

Building Racial Literacy – closes Friday 04 September

Pedagogy in Practice – Glasgow venue almost at capacity, so will be closing that option in the next day or so but we will keep Dundee option open until Friday 11 September or until it reaches capacity – whichever comes first.

Leading Professional Learning – opened today and closes Wednesday 30 September

In Headship – Friday 11 September

Coming soon… Leading the How of Change – keep an eye on the website for application forms going live!

Aspiring to Middle Leadership and Middle Leaders Leading Change are both now self-directed so can be engaged with at any time. There is no need for participants to apply to a programme cohort, although they will need an Education Scotland website account to use the Professional Learning Activities. Both of these programmes can be used as resources for those leading the professional learning of colleagues at local authority level, or within a setting.

Update on PLL Resources

Enquiry in Education has been refreshed for 26-27 and for those wishing to engage with enquiry there is a 2 part video workshop available on demand.

Coaching in Education has also been refreshed for 26-27 and participants can choose to register for one of three optional introduction sessions to help them get started using the resource. The first session takes place on Monday 14 September 2026 – 16:00 – 17.30 (click the link to register)

Leadership in Education continues to be a useful resource for school / setting leaders along with our Leadership+ offer, which is being finalised for 26-27

 Professional learning opportunities for 2026-2027 | Professional Learning | Education Scotland

Teaching standards and professional guides

Teaching standards and professional guides

The 2021 professional standards have recently been republished. The content of the Standard for Provisional Registration remains the same, but we have more clearly articulated its role as the standard for programmes of initial teacher education, as well as setting mandatory requirements for registration with GTC Scotland.After stakeholder engagement and GTC Scotland Council consideration on 11 June 2026, our refreshed Engaging online guide has also been published as Engaging online, AI and expression of views . It is available on the GTC Scotland website in digital and PDF formats and will be sent to all registrants of GTC Scotland.

Why refresh the Engaging online guide?

The guide has been refreshed to reflect current professional expectations, COPAC, the Professional Standards and learning from the Fitness to teach insight report 2018–2023, particularly in relation to public and digital expression of views.

Our Professional guides explain teaching standards in practical contexts across the teacher journey, support sound professional judgement and help sustain public confidence in teaching as a trusted and respected profession.

We continue to welcome feedback on the guide which will be closely monitored in its first year of publication. Please email gtcs@gtcs.org.uk if you have any comments you wish to share.

A draft guide on professional boundaries is in development and will be shared with you for feedback in September 2026.

Thank you for supporting this work to embed teaching standards.

The 2021 professional standards have recently been republished. The content of the Standard for Provisional Registration remains the same, but we have more clearly articulated its role as the standard for programmes of initial teacher education, as well as setting mandatory requirements for registration with GTC Scotland.After stakeholder engagement and GTC Scotland Council consideration on 11 June 2026, our refreshed Engaging online guide has also been published as Engaging online, AI and expression of views . It is available on the GTC Scotland website in digital and PDF formats and will be sent to all registrants of GTC Scotland.

Why refresh the Engaging online guide?

The guide has been refreshed to reflect current professional expectations, COPAC, the Professional Standards and learning from the Fitness to teach insight report 2018–2023, particularly in relation to public and digital expression of views.

Our Professional guides explain teaching standards in practical contexts across the teacher journey, support sound professional judgement and help sustain public confidence in teaching as a trusted and respected profession.

We continue to welcome feedback on the guide which will be closely monitored in its first year of publication. Please email gtcs@gtcs.org.uk if you have any comments you wish to share.

A draft guide on professional boundaries is in development and will be shared with you for feedback in September 2026.

Thank you for supporting this work to embed teaching standards.

Coaching for Success 2026-27

Booking for the next cohort is now open!!!

Please register your interest via Business World.

Coaching for Success Programme Aims

Enhanced capability and desire to:

  • engage in self-evaluation and personal reflection and learning
  • coach in a way that enables higher levels of performance
  • enable others to be more accountable for their role and responsibilities
  • truly listen and to empathise with another person’s view
  • give and receive effective behavioural feedback
  • reflect on ways in which relevant literature has informed thinking and practice
  • greater confidence and commitment to engage in self development and learning and to contribute to others personal development

All sessions will be held at Inspire, Tweedbank:

Session Date
1 23/09/2026 Wednesday 2.00 – 4.00pm
2 07/10/2026 Wednesday 2.00 – 4.00pm
3 04/11/2026 Wednesday 2.00 – 4.00pm
4 09/12/2026 Wednesday 2.00 – 4.00pm
5 20/01/2027 Wednesday 2.00 – 4.00pm
6 03/02/2027 Wednesday 2.00 – 4.00pm
7 10/03/2027 Wednesday 2.00 – 4.00pm
8 31/03/2027 Wednesday 2.00 – 4.00pm

 

Leadership Academy Offers 26-27

Leadership Academy 2026-27

Are you interested in leadership professional learning for next session? 

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

Have a look at the opportunities which will be available through the SBC Leadership Academy:

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. 

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 1st 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

 

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 

‘Coaching for Good’ Conference

‘Coaching For Good’ Conference

Thursday 21st May

University of Edinburgh Business School

On Thursday 21 May 2026, we’re bringing together people passionate about shaping the future for a full-day, cross-sector conference exploring coaching as a catalyst for human-centred change.

Developed in partnership with Deloitte and sponsored by Skyscanner, this inaugural event brings together leaders from across sectors to spark bold conversations, fresh insights and meaningful connections.

Benefits of attending

Over the course of the conference, you will hear from leading voices in coaching, leadership and organisational development, meet and network with colleagues from across sectors, and explore how coaching is evolving in response to this changing landscape.

You will have the opportunity to participate in:

  • Keynote contributions from Amy Brann, Hetty Einzig, Danielle Macleod and Sam Isaacson
  • Practice-led CPD sessions to strengthen coaching capability and leadership impact.
  • A cross-sector panel exploring ‘Coaching in a Data-Driven World’.
  • Opportunities to connect with peers across sectors, and an invitation to join the year-long ‘Coaching for Good’ Community of Practice launching at the conference.

The conference fee includes plenary sessions, panel discussions and CPD learning opportunities, as well as time for networking and collaboration with fellow participants.

To book your place visit Coaching for Good: Keeping Humanity at the Heart of Change.

Join us to deepen your practice, expand your influence, connect with peers, and help define how coaching will evolve. Together, we will consider how coaching can help shape a more connected, resilient and hopeful future.

Leading the How of Change

Applications for the 2026 sessions for our Leading the How of Change programme go live at 9am on Monday 1st December. This is a fully funded, one day professional learning programme for Headteachers and those who hold the Standard for Headship. Attendance at an in person session counts for 6 hours of CPD, and the online sessions count for 4 hours of CPD time.

The 2026 session options are as follows:

Tuesday 27 January – Glasgow (in person)

Tuesday 3 February – Dundee (in person)

Thursday 26 February – Edinburgh (in person)

Tuesday 3 March – online

Thursday 21 May – online

The application forms are linked on our website, and will remain open until venues are at capacity, at which point we will close the relevant application form. Places are extremely limited so please only apply for one session – we can’t accept multiple applications.

Here is some feedback from our 2025 session attendees:

“Today gave valuable headspace for focusing on things I CAN control and influence”

“I’ll steal some of these tools for work with my staff and leadership teams”

“I thought action learning sets were really powerful and felt a sense of clarity after this exercise”

“I am leaving uplifted rather than downcast”

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by emailing edspll@educationscotland.gov.scot if you have any questions or queries.

Please note that conference packages are booked as per the number of programme participants and cannot be changed after booking. Unfortunately this means cancellations are unrecoverable, leading to unnecessary expense to Education Scotland, potentially impacting future programming and events. If you are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible.

Launch of Leadership Academy (Phase 1)

Leadership Pathway poster

Applications are now open for our first Senior Leadership Pathway cohort!

Please share this information with members of staff in your school who you see as our future Head Teachers!!

This pathway will provide aspiring HTs with the skills and opportunities they will need to be in a position to apply for senior leadership roles in the future.

Tap a talent on the shoulder and give them an opportunity to begin climbing the leadership ladder.

Information session will be held online on Monday 17th November at 4pm.

Contact clpl@scotborders.gov.uk for more information.

Application forms can be requested from CLPL team or from your Headteacher.