Professional Learning Announcements
Professional Learning Opportunities for 2026-27 from Education Scotland PLL Team
12:00am, Mon 24 Aug 2026
As we begin a new academic year, the Professional Learning and Leadership (PLL) Team is pleased to share a range of professional learning opportunities designed to support your growth, leadership development and professional enquiry.
Our latest Education Scotland Professional Learning Brochure provides an overview of the professional learning opportunities available throughout the year.
• Click here to view the brochure on our Education Scotland website (accessible version)
• Click here to view the brochure directly on Canva
Facilitated Professional Learning Programmes
The PLL team offer a range of facilitated programmes this session, providing opportunities to learn alongside colleagues from across Scotland. Our facilitated programmes are designed with each session building on previous learning. For this reason, participants are expected to attend all programme dates. Please check your availability carefully before applying. All programme dates can be found on the linked webpages and within the application forms. We encourage you to review these dates fully before committing to the application process.
Building Racial Literacy – applications open now, and close Friday 04 September!
For all professional levels
The national Building Racial Literacy programme promotes anti-racism as a baseline professional value, empowering educators to identify and implement anti-racist behaviours and processes in their everyday practice. The ultimate goal of the Building Racial Literacy programme is to make every educator in Scotland racially literate, effective at dealing with racism and confident in leading anti-racism.
Leading Professional Learning – applications open Monday 31 August
For those leading professional learning within their setting
The Leading Professional Learning Programme supports practitioners to plan, lead, and evaluate impactful professional learning aligned with the Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC). Grounded in Scottish policy and evidence-informed practice, it helps leaders use enquiry, data, and collaboration to drive curriculum reform and continuous improvement.
Pedagogy in Practice – applications open now and close Friday 04 September!
The Pedagogy in Practice programme is designed for practitioners across Scotland at all stages of their career who want to strengthen their understanding and application of pedagogy in practice.
This includes practitioners working in:
• ELC settings
• primary and secondary schools
• additional support for learning
Leading the How of Change – applications open in September
For headteachers and those who hold the Standard for Headship
Self-Directed Professional Learning
We know that flexibility is important. Alongside our facilitated programmes, we offer a range of self-directed learning opportunities that can be accessed at a time and pace that suits you. You can begin these professional learning opportunities anytime!
Aspiring to Middle Leadership
This programme is designed to support educators who
• aspire to a middle leadership position
• are new to a middle leadership role
• are in an acting middle leadership role
• who are new to leading an area of whole-school or setting responsibility.
Although the underpinning research is schools based, Aspiring to Middle Leadership is open to CLD and ELC educators and practitioners as well as teachers.
You can engage with the programme on your own or with colleagues any time. Alternatively, your Local Authority may offer a version of Aspiring to Middle Leadership in partnership with Education Scotland, that uses the same materials, but is adapted to meet the needs of your locality. This may include group sessions and facilitator support. You may wish to check local professional learning bulletins to see if this option is open to you.
Middle Leaders Leading Change
This programme is designed for those in middle leadership roles and supports you to:
• know your leadership strengths and build trusting relationships
• understand the role and positionality of middle leaders
• use change models to plan a change initiative in your setting
• make effective use of data when leading improvement
• engage others in change
You can engage with the programme on your own or with colleagues any time. Alternatively, your Local Authority may offer a version of Middle Leaders Leading Change, in partnership with Education Scotland, that uses the same materials, but is adapted to meet the needs of your locality. This includes group sessions and facilitator support. You may wish to check local professional learning bulletins to see if this option is open to you.
Enquiry in Education
Enquiry in Education is an open access resource designed to support all educators to develop leadership of learning through an enquiring approach.
Coaching in Education
This professional learning resource will support you to learning about coaching and apply it in your context, whether you are beginning your journey, have an already established approach to coaching in your work or you are leading the learning of others.
We encourage you to:
• Explore the Professional Learning Brochure
• Access self-directed learning opportunities that meet your current needs
• Share these opportunities with colleagues across your setting, school or local authority
We look forward to supporting your professional learning journey throughout the year.
Final Leadership+ of the 25/26 session
12:00am, Mon 01 Jun 2026
Join us on Monday 08 June, from 4pm to 5pm for the final Leadership+ of the 25/26 session - System leadership and professional learning through networked learning systems with Dr Romina Madrid.
Click here for registration and further information
Introducing “Young Anti-Racist Voices of Scotland”: A Powerful New Anthology
12:00am, Fri 27 Mar 2026
We are delighted to share the publication of Young Anti-Racist Voices, a new anthology created by the Building Racial Literacy team at Education Scotland in partnership with anti-racist educators across Scotland. It spotlights the powerful perspectives, creativity, and lived experiences of young people across the country.
This collection represents far more than a set of poems, artworks, or short stories - it is a national platform for the voices that are shaping Scotland’s anti-racist future.
For years, children and young people have been at the forefront of anti-racist action in Scottish schools and communities. Their advocacy, courage, and commitment to social justice have helped fuel an important cultural shift in how we understand, teach, and practice anti-racism.
We have been inspired by all the children and young people’s anti-racist voices as we continue hearing about the impact of youth-led work across the country. This new anthology honours that impact.
A Platform for Creativity, Lived Experience & Hope
The Young Anti-racist Voices anthology was created to capture the “ripple effect” of anti-racist learning and action among young people in Scotland. Submissions were invited from children and young people up to age 18, encouraging them to share:
· Experiences of racism
· Stories of participating in anti-racist projects
· Artwork or creative expressions exploring social justice
· Visions of hope for an anti-racist Scotland
Education Scotland’s call for submissions emphasised that contributions could be individual or collective - from classes, youth groups, or clubs - and that the anthology would be publicly accessible as an e-book so that these voices could reach far beyond the classroom.
Why This Matters Now
This anthology arrives at a critical moment. Scotland’s commitment to embedding anti-racism across education has grown stronger in recent years, supported by new national guidance, rights-based approaches, and increased engagement with learner lived experiences. The anthology gives life to these policy goals. It reminds us that anti-racism is not an abstract framework, it is a daily practice rooted in listening to the voices of those most impacted.
How to Use This Resource
This publication is hosted as a main flipbook and as a limited print run – to be shared with contributors and during professional learning sessions. The landing page for the Anthology is filled with guidance for how to use different parts of the publication, and the full works is designed to be accessible for learners as well as educators.
A Celebration of Youth Leadership
What makes the Anthology truly special is that it celebrates not only the experiences of young people, but also their leadership. Across Scotland, children and young people have demonstrated that anti-racism is not a trend; it is a sustained movement.
Their contributions show:
· Courage in naming racism
· Creativity in imagining change
· Community in supporting one another
· Hope in believing a fairer Scotland is possible
This anthology captures all of this. It recognises that young people are not just participants in antiracism, they are leaders who are supported by skilled educators committed to developing this work.
Looking Ahead
As the anthology becomes publicly available, it offers opportunities for:
· Educators to use the voices of young people to deepen classroom conversations
· Communities to better understand the realities faced by minority ethnic children and young people
· Policymakers to ground decisions in lived experiences
· Young people to see themselves represented, valued, and heard
The publication of Young Anti-racist Voices is a milestone in Scotland’s ongoing journey toward racial equity - and a testament to the brilliance, resilience, and power of its young people.
Click here to view the Anthology
Into Headship applications now open!
12:25pm, Mon 26 Jan 2026
Into Headship, Scotland's national programme for aspiring headteachers is now accepting applications. The application window is Monday 26 January to Friday 27 March 2026.
If you’re a GTCS‑registered teacher who aspires to become a headteacher within the next two to three years, Into Headship has been created specifically with you in mind. It is designed to support teachers who are ready to take that next big leadership step.
The programme is ideal for you if:
- You are actively preparing for headship and want to build the strategic leadership capabilities the role demands.
- You’re looking for a structured, supportive pathway that helps you evidence the GTCS Standard for Headship - a mandatory requirement for all new permanently appointed headteachers in Scotland.
- You want to strengthen your confidence, deepen your professional learning, and lead meaningful improvement in your school community.
Those accepted on the programme will benefit from:
- A 60 credit postgraduate certificate at SCQF Level 11, delivered in partnership with universities, local authorities, and Education Scotland.
- Rich professional learning, including self‑evaluation, 360° feedback with coaching, and university‑level study focused on the real demands of headship.
- Mentoring from an experienced headteacher, supporting your growth every step of the way
Into Headship is a highly rewarding programme—but it does require substantial time, effort, and sustained engagement over the duration of the postgraduate qualification.
Read what some of our most recent graduates had to say about Into Headship:
“Into Headship has been a real journey albeit very challenging at times, but hugely rewarding. It pushed me to think deeply about the kind of leader I am, what I stand for and how I can keep growing.”
“The national elements of the Into Headship Programme, provided by Education Scotland, offered valuable components, particularly the 360-degree feedback process…
… The 360-degree process was a standout and, despite being slightly daunting, one of the most impactful elements of the programme. The feedback received was truly invaluable. It provided significant insight into how I am perceived by others and my overall professional presence. Crucially, it offered clear evaluation of both my strengths and areas for improvement, which is essential for targeted professional growth.”
“The course content was well-structured and clearly aligned with the GTCS Standard for Headship, ensuring that each module was purposeful and relevant to real-life leadership challenges. I particularly appreciated the balance between theory and practice, which allowed me to apply academic learning directly to my school context, especially in relation to strategic change and self-evaluation.”
Application and endorsement forms are available on the website.
Upcoming January online PL opportunities
12:00pm, Mon 05 Jan 2026
Start 2026 with our online webinars - registrations now open
Monday 12 January, 4pm to 4.45pm
Aspiring to Middle Leadership Learning Summary Completion session
Wednesday 14 January, 4pm to 5pm
Enquiry in Education – Introduction to Practitioner Enquiry
Wednesday 14 January, 4pm to 5pm
Leadership+ with Darren McGarvey – How can education be a tool for equity?
Thursday 29 January, 4pm to 5.30pm
BRL+ with Jeffrey Boakye – Masculinity in education
Upcoming December online PL opportunities
10:30am, Mon 24 Nov 2025
First up, we’re delighted to announce that, following a very much sold out webinar last year, Dr Simon Breakspear will be returning with a Leadership+ session entitled ‘Elevated Conversations: Practical tools to enhance practical teacher time’. It will take place on Wednesday 3 December at 9.15 to 10.15am. If you are a regular at Leadership+, do note the morning time slot (Simon will be joining us from Australia). Please click here to register for a place at Elevated Conversations, or use the link in the attached poster.
And for middle leaders who are completing our self-directed Middle Leaders Leading Change programme, we’re running a Planning session on Monday 8 December from 4pm to 5pm. In this session we will look at the Change Initiative aspect of the programme and support you to get started with it, integrating your learning as you go, and planning for its successful implementation. We will look at some Change Initiative examples from previous participants. Please click here to register for this event.
Leadership+ That first-day-back feeling: Sustaining energy and optimism in yourself and your team
01:45pm, Mon 25 Aug 2025
We’re delighted to announce the 25/26 session launch of Leadership+, Education Scotland’s series of bespoke webinars designed to enhance leadership learning and spark critical thinking across Scottish education.
Leadership+ offers fresh, thought-provoking content to support your ongoing development and the webinars are open to anyone in a leadership role across all education sectors.
Dr Karen Edge will be delivering the first webinar in our 25/26 Leadership+ series bringing global insight and practical strategies to help leaders re-energise themselves and their teams—perfect timing for the start of a new academic year!
Dr Karen Edge: That first-day-back feeling: Sustaining energy and optimism in yourself and your team.
Monday 8 September
4pm to 5pm
Online via MS Teams
Places are limited, and we expect high demand—so please don’t delay!
Click here to register via Eventbrite
Dr Edge’s Leadership+ session last year was attended by over 400 leaders across Scottish education – here’s what they said about the session:
“Karen was so interesting and engaging - she brought a lot of herself to the session which I really appreciated. Really well paced and interactive - thank you!”
“A fantastic session by Karen Edge - genuine and authentic and linking to the research and her own relatable experiences.
The session passed so quickly - very enjoyable and relevant to the here and now. Thank you”
“The ideas were very thought provoking and the interactive activities are ones that I can see me using during staff meetings “
Please note: This session will not be recorded, so we strongly encourage you to attend live to benefit fully. However, Dr Edge will kindly record a 15-minute post-event overview, which will be available on our Leadership+ webpage.
We will be offering more Leadership+ sessions in the 25/26 session, and will be publishing details of these in the coming weeks.
We hope you’ll join us for this inspiring first session and be part of a growing community of leaders shaping the future of Scottish education.
Leadership professional learning applications open today!
12:00pm, Mon 18 Aug 2025
We are delighted to announce that applications for the following programmes opened today (18 August 2025) and will remain open until Friday 05 September at 11.45 pm.
Visit the links below to find out more about the programmes open today!
Places on the above programmes are limited and we anticipate high demand for these, so we may need to close application forms early if the number of applications exceeds the number of available places.
Education Scotland professional learning service 2025/26
12:00pm, Thu 26 Jun 2025
Education Scotland has continued to improve its professional learning service. We have sent the following PowerPoint slides out to all schools in Scotland for sharing with colleagues in August.
Education Scotland Professional Learning Service 2025 2026
The slides highlight
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professional learning programmes that will open for applications in 2025/26 academic session
-
open access professional learning resources that colleagues can access anytime
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professional learning activities that individuals or groups can engage with and have a record of completing
-
where to search for events on the Education Scotland webpage
Note that this isn’t the totality of the professional learning service, more information is available here on the Education Scotland website .
Welcome to Professional Learning Announcements
12:00pm, Wed 23 Apr 2025
Welcome to this new area of our website. From summer 2025, we will use this space to promote upcoming professional learning opportunities from Education Scotland.
Whether you are interested in engaging in a programme of leadership learning, attending sessions or webinars on specific themes or building your own bespoke learning journey using our self directed professional learning activities, we are here to support your ongoing professional development with high-quality learning experiences and resources.