PG Certificate: Into Headship (with Standard for Headship)

Programme Overview

'Into Headship' is a preparatory programme for aspiring headteachers, designed to support their professional development for the specific role of headship and enable them to demonstrate their achievement of the Standard for Headship (GTCS, 2021). Underpinning the Standard for Headship is a model of whole-school strategic leadership where a headteacher has responsibility for leading the whole school community to build and sustain the conditions for effective learning. 

'Into Headship' is Scotland’s national qualification for headship. It has been designed in consultation with universities, local authorities, Education Scotland and GTCS  and focusses on the specificity of headship and the strategic role of head teachers. This programme is delivered in partnership between Moray House School of Education and Sport and the six partner local authorities in our Teacher Education Partnership.

View our partner local authorities

The programme aims to inspire participants to critically reflect on their own leadership and management practices. Within this programme, teaching and learning activities will include: workshops, seminars, problem-based learning activities, peer group learning and one-to-one meetings.

Participation involves a significant personal and professional challenge. The programme makes demands on the time of busy people with a heavy set of responsibilities. It will only be worthwhile if participants make the commitment to grow, develop and learn through the programme.

Elements of the programme

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On completion of the 'Into Headship' programme, participants are awarded a Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits). The programme is constructed around two courses: 

• Course 1 (20 credits): Developing as a Strategic Educational Leader 
• Course 2 (40 credits): Leading Strategic Educational Change

Learning aims

The specific aims of the programme are to:

• Foster a future orientated strategic stance to initiate and lead change for improvement through engagement with the full school community
• Build and apply sound knowledge and understanding of strategic leadership and management theories and practices in the context of the role of the headteacher
• Develop an understanding of the place of values in leading a school community and explore ways of addressing some of the challenges this poses
• Develop practice in the use of critical enquiry and reflection to evaluate and strengthen the impact of their practices on the school community
• Enhance interpersonal and personal skills, confidence and resilience for those preparing to move into headship

Application process

The application process is done through your Local Authority co-ordinator.

The PG Certificate Into Headship is fully funded by Scottish Government for GTCS registered teachers in Scotland.

SCIS - please apply directly to Education Scotland

• City of Edinburgh: Mhari-Louise Teden (Mhari-Louise.Teden@edinburgh.gov.uk)
• Fife: Lesley Henderson (Lesley.Henderson-edu@fife.gov.uk)
• Midlothian: Eilidh Young (e.mckay@midlothian.education)
• Scottish Borders: Caroline Howieson/Susanne Liddle (CLPL@scotborders.gov.uk)
• East Lothian: Louise Graham (lgraham3@eastlothian.gov.uk)
• West Lothian: Emma Ballantyne (wlpl@westlothian.org.uk)

Once your place is confirmed by your local authority or Education Scotland, please complete your application to the University of Edinburgh to enrol.

Apply now

Contact details

For any other enquiries, please contact us at the email address below

 TEPartnerships@ed.ac.uk