WIREDGOV

Further support for leadership in schools

A masters qualification for headship will be introduced this year and become mandatory for all new headteachers from 2018/19, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

Building on the £100m Scottish Attainment Challenge to drive forward improvements on educational outcomes in the most disadvantaged communities, this announcement reflects the clear evidence of the importance of leadership in improving attainment.

From August 2015 teachers will be able to complete the new qualification, which has been designed by the Scottish College for Educational Leadership, with it becoming mandatory by the end of the four year Attainment Challenge period.

The First Minister also announced a further £1 million to create new opportunities for teachers to learn at masters level. This will build on the £3 million already invested in masters level learning over the last three years, involving around 2,000 teachers.

The First Minister made yesterday’s announcement while visiting a school in East London which was part of the London Challenge and has made significant progress in improving attainment.

She said:

“I have now seen for myself, both in Scotland and here in London, how excellent leadership in schools can be key to their success. I want all schools to be led by the best qualified people who are ready to take on the role as headteacher.

“Leadership has played a key role in improving attainment in London schools and just as the rest of the world learns from the best of Scotland’s education system, it is right that we learn the lessons from London and around the world on closing the attainment gap.

“Strong leadership and the best teachers are a fundamental part of improving attainment and achievement for children and young people.

“Last year, we established the independent Scottish College for Educational Leadership which is working to develop the new masters qualification for Headship in Scotland. Teachers will be able to ake the qualification from August this year and we will make it a legal requirement that from the end of the four year Attainment Challenge period all new headteachers must hold this masters qualification.

“However, even the best headteachers can’t deliver on their own; classroom teachers play a vital and valuable role. To build on our initial investment in masters level learning, and to give more professionals the opportunity to develop their own practice, we are announcing an additional £1m in the 2015/16 financial year. Combined with this new funding, our schools will have the right number of teachers with the right skills to ensure our young people continue to benefit from Scotland’s world-class education system.”

Gillian Hamilton, CEO of the Scottish College for Educational Leadership added: 

“I am delighted with both the support from, and the commitment of, the First Minister and the Scottish Government to this important work and look forward to continued partnership working to take this forward.”

Ken Cunningham, General Secretary of School Leaders Scotland said:

“School Leaders Scotland are pleased to see, in the context of raising attainment and closing the gap, the First Minister’s commitment to supporting the key pillars of enhanced teacher professionalism and strong school leadership. The reaffirming of enhanced staff qualifications at all levels is to be welcomed. 

“With the First Minister we recognise the very strong existing leadership in Scotland, founded on a set of agreed values now embedded in the GTCS Standards, and we know that with the right support, alongside tried and trusted research evidence, we can continue to build on that secure foundation and ensure the long term quality of the whole teaching workforce in Scotland. As that happens, all of Scotland’s young people will undoubtedly benefit.”

Ken Muir, CEO of the General Teaching Council for Scotland said: 

“GTCS warmly welcomes the First Minister’s announcement to further support Masters-level learning in the teaching profession in Scotland. This includes the announcement regarding making the Scottish Qualification for Headship a legal requirement which we also endorse.

“This will only serve to further strengthen and embed our commitment as a country to high standards across the teaching profession. This is not to dilute the importance of flexibility in what is a changing learning and teaching world, where qualifications can be gained through a number of routes; however, the importance of standards not just to teachers but to parents and pupils is one of the hallmarks of the high quality Scottish education system.

“As guardian of the standards for the teaching profession in Scotland, GTCS looks forward to working with its partners across Scottish education to realise the ambitions outlined by the First Minister in her announcement.”

Notes To Editors

The Scottish College for Education Leadership is developing a new qualification for Headship that will replace the existing routes through which teachers meet the Standard for Headship. The new qualification will be provided by multiple Scottish universities and will be set at masters level.

Information on the Scottish Attainment Challenge can be found at:http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Smart-money-on-attainment-15d2.aspx

Scottish College for Educational Leadership: http://www.scelscotland.org.uk/