Improving leadership of professional learning at St Joseph’s Primary
Introduction to my leadership journey
My journey into leading professional learning began a few years ago when I completed the Quality Assessment and Moderation Support Officer (QAMSO) training with Education Scotland. This was followed by the Middle Leaders Leading Change programme, which equipped me with invaluable skills and knowledge. Since then, I have applied this learning by planning, delivering, and facilitating assessment and moderation sessions for my school and across our Associated School Group (ASG). Collaboration with QAMSO officers and our Collaborative Lead Officer has further enriched this process.
Why I chose the Leading Professional Learning programme
As a reflective practitioner and lifelong learner, I’m always seeking ways to improve my practice. The Leading Professional Learning Programme appealed to me because I wanted to deepen my understanding of what quality professional learning looks like in a school. By learning the benchmarks of quality professional learning, I aimed to enhance my leadership skills and improve professional learning opportunities at St Joseph’s Primary.
My learning experience
The programme exceeded my expectations. Through online sessions, research, and hearing about other schools’ journeys, my knowledge of quality professional learning grew significantly. These insights inspired me to take action to improve professional learning within my school, as participants were tasked with implementing and evaluating an improvement initiative.
Challenges and reflections
At the time, our school’s collegiate calendar left no room for additional sessions with my team. This prompted me to reflect on where all improvement starts: self-evaluation. I realised the first step was to gather evidence to understand our strengths and areas for growth in professional learning. This evidence-based approach would provide a clear picture to guide our improvement journey.
Designing a professional learning survey
To gather meaningful insights, I designed a survey focused on three key areas of professional learning:
- professional learning culture – collective efficacy
- collective professional learning
- individual professional learning
After drafting the survey, I sought feedback from the Professional Learning and Leadership team in Education Scotland, and their suggestions helped refine the final version. The survey was distributed to 10 members of our Class Teachers/Senior Management Team, with 7 participants responding. Using a 5-point scale, participants rated their agreement with various statements, providing a clear view of our strengths and areas for development.
Collating and sharing results
The survey results revealed important insights into our professional learning practices. I collated the data and prepared a Google Slide presentation to share the findings with my team. This collaborative session allowed us to identify next steps and align a roadmap for continuous improvement.
Next steps
With the data in hand and a clearer picture of our professional learning landscape, our team is now better equipped to enhance professional learning at St Joseph’s. By focusing on evidence-based improvements, we aim to foster a culture of collective efficacy and meaningful professional growth.
Access to the presentation
If you’re interested in the details of our findings and next steps, you can view the Google Slide presentation here: Professional Learning Survey Findings
Conclusion
The Leading Professional Learning programme has been a transformative experience. It has not only deepened my understanding of professional learning but also equipped me with the tools to lead meaningful change. I look forward to continuing this journey and fostering a strong culture of professional learning at St Joseph’s Primary.
