Middle Leaders Leading Change

Published 10/07/2024.  Last updated 11/08/2026

This is a self-directed Education Scotland leadership professional learning programme.

Middle Leaders Leading Change (MLLC) is an online self-led programme which is designed to be flexible. 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.

Additionally, you can choose activities that go deeper into:

  • exploring anti-racist thinking and practice
  • growing your skills, knowledge and confidence using coaching approaches
  • building your knowledge, skills and understanding of curriculum building.

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.

If you are not yet in a middle leadership role, you may want to consider our Aspiring to Middle Leadership programme.

The programme is for current middle leaders and those who have a whole school /setting responsibility or area of focus, but may not currently hold a formal leadership position.

Although the underpinning research is schools based, Middle Leaders Leading Change is open to CLD and ELC educators and practitioners as well as teachers.

The 4 pillars of MLLC are:

  • Self-awareness and awareness of others: Develop awareness of yourself as a leader and understand how this informs your relationships and leadership
  • Anti-racism: Develop an understanding of identity, privilege and power and how to actively encourage and celebrate diversity
  • Leadership of change: Develop knowledge, skills and confidence in the use of different models and approaches to lead and scaffold change
  • Coaching as a model of practice: Enhance awareness and knowledge of coaching approaches for leadership.

Participants undertake online learning and a Change Initiative in their setting to put their learning into practice.

Participants undertake 6 online professional learning activities (PLAs), made up of 5 core PLAs and 1 selected PLA.

To access the PLAs, you will need to open an account at the Education Scotland website. The 5 core PLAs are:

  • Self-awareness for middle leaders
  • Understanding middle leadership
  • Change models
  • Using data to lead change
  • Engaging others in change.

The 5 core PLAs are built upon the 4 pillars of MLLC, which are:

  • Self-awareness and awareness of others
  • Anti-racism
  • Leadership of change
  • Coaching as a model of practice.

After completing the 5 core PLAs, choose at least 1 one of the following as your selected PLA:

  • Becoming an anti-racist educator
  • Establishing and building coaching relationships
  • The Curriculum Improvement Cycle and Scotland’s refreshed curriculum.

In addition, you will plan and undertake a Change Initiative in your setting, to put your learning into practice.

There are 4 optional videos to support your learning: videos to support your learning, which you may choose to watch. These are available at the MLLC webpages.

Video 1: Introduction

Video 2: Planning

Video 3: Completing

Video 4: Sharing

To complete the programme and receive a certificate, participants are required to complete at least 6 PLAs and submit a completed Change Initiative template.

In 2026-27, Education Scotland offers MLLC only as a self-directed programme. There is no facilitated programme this session as we refocus capacity towards curriculum.

Your local authority may offer MLLC as a facilitated programme, using the Education Scotland materials, offering group sessions and a co-badged certificate. Check your local professional learning bulletins to see if this is an option in your area.

As a self-directed learner, you can use the open access materials at the website to start and finish the programme whenever you like. There’s no application process. We suggest the programme take around 12 working months to complete.

A reflective journal template is provided should you wish to use it.

Each PLA takes 3-4 hours to complete, with 6 PLAs required for completion.

In addition, time will be required in your setting to put your learning into practice and undertake your Change Initiative.

Each video lasts 30-40 minutes.

You can start and finish at a time to suit you. We recommend you take 12 months to complete the programme.

‘Every aspect of the course was both relevant and so interesting. It not only helped me to reflect on my practice as middle leader but as a person, mother, friend, partner.’

‘Reflection on my own position, role and practice has developed my confidence in leading staff members.’

‘I think it has empowered me to subsequently empower my staff to effect change in a highly supportive environment. This, then, has had a positive impact on the learner experience across my faculty.’

‘Able to promote collegiate leadership and bring colleague strengths to the fore.’

‘The MLLC programme has equipped me with the skills to be more confident in leading whole school change. I have opportunities to lead change throughout my school with various curriculum developments and learning about change models has helped me to implement robust strategic improvements which has resulted in increased staff skill, confidence and motivation as well as raised engagement for pupils.’

‘Brilliant CLPL to anchor your thinking and provide space to think about the impact change can bring.’

‘Children now have equitable opportunities to participate in wider achievement activities which are systematically tracked and monitoring.’

‘I believe I will be a better leader because of the knowledge I have gained on this course.’

‘I think it has encouraged me to be more open in my outlooks. Has reminded me to lead with authenticity and be more honest with colleagues when I don't know the answer. This has helped my colleagues to open up with me further and feel more able to approach me with a problem.’

‘The main benefit of this course was looking at different models for change and having the opportunity to explore and use each one. This led to a more controlled and systematic process for change rather than me just ripping up a course and telling my staff about a new one. We have worked together really well through this process and the knowledge I have gained about leadership and my role in leadership from the MLLC course has been invaluable.’

In 2026-27, Education Scotland offers Middle Leader Leading Change (MLLC) only as a self-directed programme. There is no facilitated programme this session as we refocus capacity towards curriculum.

Self-directed option: You can get started whenever you are ready. You will need to open an account at the Education Scotland website.

Your Local Authority may offer a version of Middle Leaders Leading Change, in partnership with Education Scotland, that 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.

Yes. Local Authorities and settings can facilitate Middle Leaders Leading Change using the resources in the programme pages. A downloadable Introductory session PowerPoint presentation with facilitation notes is provided. Further presentations will be added soon. You can make use of the recorded sessions as they become available too. If you would like to deliver the programme in your setting, team, cluster or Local Authority, please contact edspll@educationscotland.gov.scot for more information and support.
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Middle Leaders Leading Change

Published 10/07/2024.  Last updated 11/08/2026

This is a self-directed Education Scotland leadership professional learning programme.

Middle Leaders Leading Change (MLLC) is an online self-led programme which is designed to be flexible. 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.

Additionally, you can choose activities that go deeper into:

  • exploring anti-racist thinking and practice
  • growing your skills, knowledge and confidence using coaching approaches
  • building your knowledge, skills and understanding of curriculum building.

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.

If you are not yet in a middle leadership role, you may want to consider our Aspiring to Middle Leadership programme.

The programme is for current middle leaders and those who have a whole school /setting responsibility or area of focus, but may not currently hold a formal leadership position.

Although the underpinning research is schools based, Middle Leaders Leading Change is open to CLD and ELC educators and practitioners as well as teachers.

The 4 pillars of MLLC are:

  • Self-awareness and awareness of others: Develop awareness of yourself as a leader and understand how this informs your relationships and leadership
  • Anti-racism: Develop an understanding of identity, privilege and power and how to actively encourage and celebrate diversity
  • Leadership of change: Develop knowledge, skills and confidence in the use of different models and approaches to lead and scaffold change
  • Coaching as a model of practice: Enhance awareness and knowledge of coaching approaches for leadership.

Participants undertake online learning and a Change Initiative in their setting to put their learning into practice.

Participants undertake 6 online professional learning activities (PLAs), made up of 5 core PLAs and 1 selected PLA.

To access the PLAs, you will need to open an account at the Education Scotland website. The 5 core PLAs are:

  • Self-awareness for middle leaders
  • Understanding middle leadership
  • Change models
  • Using data to lead change
  • Engaging others in change.

The 5 core PLAs are built upon the 4 pillars of MLLC, which are:

  • Self-awareness and awareness of others
  • Anti-racism
  • Leadership of change
  • Coaching as a model of practice.

After completing the 5 core PLAs, choose at least 1 one of the following as your selected PLA:

  • Becoming an anti-racist educator
  • Establishing and building coaching relationships
  • The Curriculum Improvement Cycle and Scotland’s refreshed curriculum.

In addition, you will plan and undertake a Change Initiative in your setting, to put your learning into practice.

There are 4 optional videos to support your learning: videos to support your learning, which you may choose to watch. These are available at the MLLC webpages.

Video 1: Introduction

Video 2: Planning

Video 3: Completing

Video 4: Sharing

To complete the programme and receive a certificate, participants are required to complete at least 6 PLAs and submit a completed Change Initiative template.

In 2026-27, Education Scotland offers MLLC only as a self-directed programme. There is no facilitated programme this session as we refocus capacity towards curriculum.

Your local authority may offer MLLC as a facilitated programme, using the Education Scotland materials, offering group sessions and a co-badged certificate. Check your local professional learning bulletins to see if this is an option in your area.

As a self-directed learner, you can use the open access materials at the website to start and finish the programme whenever you like. There’s no application process. We suggest the programme take around 12 working months to complete.

A reflective journal template is provided should you wish to use it.

Each PLA takes 3-4 hours to complete, with 6 PLAs required for completion.

In addition, time will be required in your setting to put your learning into practice and undertake your Change Initiative.

Each video lasts 30-40 minutes.

You can start and finish at a time to suit you. We recommend you take 12 months to complete the programme.

‘Every aspect of the course was both relevant and so interesting. It not only helped me to reflect on my practice as middle leader but as a person, mother, friend, partner.’

‘Reflection on my own position, role and practice has developed my confidence in leading staff members.’

‘I think it has empowered me to subsequently empower my staff to effect change in a highly supportive environment. This, then, has had a positive impact on the learner experience across my faculty.’

‘Able to promote collegiate leadership and bring colleague strengths to the fore.’

‘The MLLC programme has equipped me with the skills to be more confident in leading whole school change. I have opportunities to lead change throughout my school with various curriculum developments and learning about change models has helped me to implement robust strategic improvements which has resulted in increased staff skill, confidence and motivation as well as raised engagement for pupils.’

‘Brilliant CLPL to anchor your thinking and provide space to think about the impact change can bring.’

‘Children now have equitable opportunities to participate in wider achievement activities which are systematically tracked and monitoring.’

‘I believe I will be a better leader because of the knowledge I have gained on this course.’

‘I think it has encouraged me to be more open in my outlooks. Has reminded me to lead with authenticity and be more honest with colleagues when I don't know the answer. This has helped my colleagues to open up with me further and feel more able to approach me with a problem.’

‘The main benefit of this course was looking at different models for change and having the opportunity to explore and use each one. This led to a more controlled and systematic process for change rather than me just ripping up a course and telling my staff about a new one. We have worked together really well through this process and the knowledge I have gained about leadership and my role in leadership from the MLLC course has been invaluable.’

In 2026-27, Education Scotland offers Middle Leader Leading Change (MLLC) only as a self-directed programme. There is no facilitated programme this session as we refocus capacity towards curriculum.

Self-directed option: You can get started whenever you are ready. You will need to open an account at the Education Scotland website.

Your Local Authority may offer a version of Middle Leaders Leading Change, in partnership with Education Scotland, that 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.

Yes. Local Authorities and settings can facilitate Middle Leaders Leading Change using the resources in the programme pages. A downloadable Introductory session PowerPoint presentation with facilitation notes is provided. Further presentations will be added soon. You can make use of the recorded sessions as they become available too. If you would like to deliver the programme in your setting, team, cluster or Local Authority, please contact edspll@educationscotland.gov.scot for more information and support.
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