Senior Leaders

As lead learners, school leaders ensure that a strong and consistent focus is placed on learning and teaching in their schools. They have, and outline, clear and high expectations regarding the standard of learning and teaching which they expect to see throughout their school and drive improvements in attainment and achievement. They are adept in motivating teachers to meet these standards and work closely with middle leaders to provide effective on-going support and challenge for teachers to ensure excellence in learning and teaching.

School leaders drive and promote a culture of self-evaluation, using evidence-based practice to bring about improvement. It’s important that, working with senior colleagues, school leaders have effective systems in place to evaluate the impact of learning and teaching on learner progress and engage in constructive dialogue with teachers to inform on-going school improvement. School leaders ensure that curricula best meet the needs of all children and young people, offering opportunities for the development of skills for learning, work and life and using a range of inspiring pedagogy and well-judged innovation.

Leadership Activities:

  • Keeping abreast of National Policy and Research
  • Contributing to SBC policy developments
  • Visiting and learning from other schools in the Local Authority and Nationally
  • Engage with the National Framework for Educational Leadership (SCEL)
  • Engaging in Professional Networks
  • Participating in National Conferences – i.e. AHDS, SCEL, SELMAS, GTCS, Education Scotland
  • Networking nationally and locally
  • Coaching and mentoring other leaders

Leadership Opportunities

Description

Induction Programme for New Leaders

All new headteachers will be given a comprehensive induction programme and be matched to a supporter.

Coaching

See Coaching Framework for all opportunities

Education Scotland/University of Edinburgh

Into Headship

Aims to ensure aspirant headteachers are supported to develop and continue to build the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding required of senior leaders. The Into Headship qualification is aimed at those teachers whose next post will be that of a headteacher, likely to be within 2/3 years. 60 credit postgraduate Certificate at SCQF level 11 (part of Masters leadership pathway). Successful participants are also awarded the Standard for Headship, which will become a pre-requisite for all new headteachers in Scotland from 2020.

In Headship

The third and final component of the Specialist Qualification for Headship and participants will normally enter the programme within two years of taking up post as a headteacher, with at least 60 SCQF credits at level 11 achieved through other elements of the Specialist Qualification Masters pathway. Aims to support, develop and continue to build the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding required of head teachers.

Excellence in Headship

Supports head teachers who have been in post for two years or more, to strengthen and expand their school leadership skills, with a strong focus on school improvement and the delivery of excellence and equity for all children and young people.