The Excellence in Headship programme provides  professional learning opportunities for leadership in a range of formats, which include: opportunities for collaborative learning, cross-system learning,  network development, issue exploration and international research.

Following registering with the programme, there are an three sequential core leadership learning sessions that you can participant in:

• Leadership of and for Learning
• Leadership of and for Complex Change
• Leadership of and For System

The professional learning opportunities can be viewed in our events section.

The Excellence in Headship (EiH) programme provides a range of benefits including:

• engage online and in person with fellow headteachers, and work collaboratively to develop better understanding through a community of practice
• access a range of online resources that support professional learning and leadership for headteachers
• use the professional learning gained from the programme as a basis for productive Professional Review and Development (PRD) and Professional Update discussion.
• Access to System Learns which are hosted by our associated systems leadership collaborative enquiry programme: Connected and Collaborative System Leadership

Excellence in Headship supports all headteachers and is a universal leadership professional learning programme with no minimum number of years in role required to participate.

The core time commitment for Excellence in Headship will be one full day for each in – person core learning session, with online session split over two days (Afternoon and morning session).

As the Professional Learning and Leadership Team is currently funded to develop a suite of programmes, participation in the programme is free of charge, however there is no funding for any staff cover costs or travel.

For in-person core learning sessions we are required to book venues and catering in advance so by signing up you are signing a social contract that communicates  your intention to attend. We recognise there may exceptional circumstances that prevent your attendance. In this instance we would ask that you inform  us at the earliest opportunity to allow for your place to go to another school leader.

Registrations for 23-24 academic year have now closed, but please complete this short form if you’d like us to stay in touch and let you know when the registrations reopen.

How much time should I commit to the programme?

The core time commitment for Excellence in Headship will be one full day for each in – person core learning session, with online session split over two days (Afternoon and morning session).

The professional learning opportunities can be viewed in our events section.

Is there a qualification for completion of the programme?

Excellence in Headship is designed to support and facilitate experiential learning and is not mapped to a particular level of the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework. There is no formal qualification awarded for engaging in the programme.

It will continually evolve and be available on an annual basis, based on sector priorities and feedback from participant headteachers. Some learning within the themes may be mapped to a particular SCQF level and when this is the case, it will be publicised as appropriate.

I’ve been informed by my employer that I have registered with the programme, what happens next?

Education Scotland is responsible for the administration and management of Excellence in Headship. Once you have completed the registration form and you have informed your employer, you can sign up for Core Learning Sessions.

I have been a headteacher for one year. Can I apply for this programme?

Yes, the Excellence in Headship programme is a universal offer with no minimum experience requirement.

How will my learning be evaluated?

Evaluation activities are built into the programme and you are encouraged to complete these. It is important that we receive evaluations to help us continually improve all aspects of the programme. You will also be encouraged to create and maintain a learning plan linked to your work on professional update.

Leaders in the widest sense understand that people are the drivers and enactors of change for improvement. Professional learning and development is the means by which this is put into action. As a priority, leaders commit to and invest in their own professional learning and development, creating the conditions where professional learning can thrive: space, time, culture and trust. In this session we will explore this concept and consider how this thinking interacts with the current policy landscape that is influencing Scottish education notably within the current climate of education reform.

This session enables you to develop your understanding of systems leadership in terms of managing complex change. You will explore some of the relevant literature and models surrounding the management of complex change. This is a valuable opportunity to think, share your experience and learn together with systems leaders from across Scotland.

This session will provide an opportunity to explore how leaders build relational trust and networks across the system to ensure impact and the best outcomes for children and young people. You will take time with participants to take a deeper dive into the current policy landscape that is influencing Scottish education notably within the current climate of education reform. We will also introduce practical tools and approaches that can help you in your role to sense-make policy and develop an agile leadership approach to problem solving.