Leadership in Education
Stay connected, informed and inspired with our leadership resource page. This dedicated resource provides some valuable information tailored to educational leadership.
Our curated research section offers studies and reports to support evidence-based decision making. There are also links to an array of resources of interest, including policy updates, innovative strategies and blogs by fellow leaders.
For ongoing professional growth we have highlighted some of our self-directed leadership learning resources along with ongoing leadership webinars that might be of interest.
New! Leadership+ series
Leadership+ is a series of one-off bespoke webinars which complement the work of Education Scotland’s leadership programmes, as well as reflecting big-ticket themes of interest to leaders. Webinars will be research-led, delivered by experts in their fields and clearly from a leadership perspective.
See our Featured content section below for new, 15-minute summary videos from our opening two speakers, Dr Karen Edge and Dr Simon Breakspear.
A new, dedicated webpage for Leadership+ is coming soon.
Leadership+
Leadership for capacity and wellbeing
Dr Karen Edge shares ways to foster kindness, calm and joy at work.
Leadership for capacity and wellbeing
Renowned author and academic Dr Karen Edge talks about flourishing at work and some of the ways you can foster the conditions for kindness, calm and joy- for you and your colleagues.
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Strategic subtraction: The pruning principle
Dr Simon Breakspear offers a groundbreaking approach to educational leadership.
Strategic subtraction: The pruning principle
Globally esteemed speaker, author and researcher Dr Simon Breakspear offers a groundbreaking approach to educational leadership, drawing inspiration from horticulture to address the chronic issues of overwork in schools.
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Professional learning
Featured content
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Into Headship
Into Headship is Scotland’s national programme for aspiring headteachers. Successful participants are awarded the GTCS Standard for Headship.
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Connected and Collaborative Systems Leadership
The Connected and Collaborative Systems Leadership programme is designed to support headteachers and system level leaders to strengthen and expand their school and system leadership skills, with a strong focus on delivering excellence and equity for all children and young people.
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Middle Leaders Leading Change
Middle Leaders Leading Change is an online self-led programme which is designed to be flexible. This programme is designed for those in middle leadership roles.
Standards supporting leading in education
Our standards are crucial in developing and enhancing professionalism and are a key tool to support professional growth and leadership.
Knowledge Base > Professional Standards (gtcs.org.uk)
The Standard for Middle Leadership (gtcs.org.uk)
The Standard for Headship (gtcs.org.uk)
The Standard for Career-Long Professional Learning (gtcs.org.uk)
Professional learning for leadership in education
Professional learning activities (PLAs)
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Exploring school leadership
Explore and develop understanding of the concept of school leadership.
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Leading a specific change project
Develop an understanding of the change process and the leadership skills required to lead a change project.
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In Headship
In Headship is a postgraduate programme for headteachers early in post which supports them to develop and continue to build the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding required in their new role.
Latest blogs and events
- Empowering educators: A journey through Transformative Learning 11 June 2024
- EiH Stretch: Redeveloping my sense of agency and empowerment 02 May 2024
- Excellence in Headship Stretch: Embracing empowerment through collaboration 28 February 2024
Leading in Education videos
Simon Breakspear Middle Leadership
Simon Middle Leadership
Simon Breakspear Middle Leadership
Simon Breakspear gives an overview of the importance of middle leadership in school improvement and outlines the principle of strategic subtraction.
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SLF Conversations 2023 Santiago Rincon Gallardo
SLF Conversations 2023 Santiago Rincon Gallardo
SLF Conversation 2023 with Santiago Rincon Gallardo outlining his research and findings about whole system change and reimagining education.
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More videos can be found in our dedicated video resource library.
Further resources to support leading in education
Leadership podcasts
Policy
- Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence: Into the Future chevron_right
- All Learners in Scotland Matter: national discussion on education (gov.scot) chevron_right
- It's Our Future - Independent review of qualifications and assessment (gov.scot) chevron_right
- Fit for the Future: developing a post-school learning system to fuel economic transformation (gov.scot) chevron_right
System leadership
- Who do you choose to be? An invitation to the nobility of leadership (PDF file) chevron_right
- The Dawn of System Leadership (ssir.org) chevron_right
- Systems Leadership for Effective Services (leadershipforchange.org.uk) chevron_right
- System Leaders and System Leadership: Reviewing the Evidence (nael.cymru) chevron_right