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The Standards for Leadership and Management include both the Standard for Middle Leadership and the Standard for Headship (SFH). The Standards for Leadership and Management lay down the foundations for professionalism and leadership required by all headteachers. It is a framework for aspiring head teachers and identifies key qualities that are required to succeed as an experienced headteacher.
Holding the Standard for Headship will become a prerequisite for teachers taking up their first permanent headteacher post at Local Authority and grant-aided schools in Scotland from 1 August 2020, under Section 28 of the Education (Scotland) Act 2016.
There will be two exemptions. The first applies to any permanent headteacher who has been appointed to a position in a school on, or prior to, 1 August 2020. The second exemption enables education authorities or the managers of grant-aided schools to appoint a person to a headteacher post, who has not attained the Standard for Headship, on a temporary basis for a period not exceeding 30 months after 1 August 2020.
The Scottish Government has no plans at present to require that teachers appointed to headteacher posts in independent schools should hold the Standard for Headship. There was agreement during the passage of the Education (Scotland) Act 2016 that the regulations relating to the independent sector would be delayed until after those covering the local authority and grant-aided sectors came into force and the requirement for all teachers in independent schools to be registered with GTCS had become embedded.
Into Headship
The Scottish College for Educational Leadership (SCEL) has led the development of the Into Headship qualification which is now Scotland's national qualification for headship. It has been designed in consultation with universities, local authorities, Education Scotland, GTCS and SCEL and focusses on the specificity of headship and the strategic role of head teachers.
There are currently seven university partners accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland that deliver the qualification in partnership with local authorities and SCEL. The programme is designed as a 60 credit postgraduate certificate qualification at SCQF level 11 which forms part of a Masters leadership pathway. On successful completion participants are also awarded the Standard for Headship.
Former Routes to Headship
Two routes, the Flexible Route to Headship (FrH) and the Scottish Qualification for Headship (SQH) are no longer available as programmes of study, however, teachers who have successfully completed SQH or FRH continue to hold the Standard for Headship.
Flexible Route to Headship (FRH)
FRH is a leadership development opportunity for aspiring headteachers administered by Education Scotland. FRH provides the participant the chance to develop interpersonal skills and leadership qualities required to effectively lead and manage a school.
The programme offers choice and flexibility for individual participants, takes account of different learning styles of participants and is predominately practice-based with a strong focus on impact. The programme requires individuals to self-evaluate against the SFH, deliver a significant whole-school leadership project and demonstrate their learning at a final interview facilitated by GTC Scotland.
The overall vision of FRH is to develop the leadership potential of aspiring headteachers with the purpose of bringing forward more high quality leaders in Scotland.
Further information on the FRH can be found by contacting your local authority's FRH co-ordinator or viewing our Useful Links section.
Scottish Qualification for Headship (SQH)
Like the flexible route, SQH is designed to enable the participant to develop and demonstrate the interpersonal skills and leadership qualities required to effectively lead and manage a school.
The programmes offered by various University providers include attendance at taught days, seminars and the opportunity to link academic research in the area of educational leadership to individual and collaborative leadership practice. A major element of the course is a significant whole-school leadership project.
Many of the original SQH programmes have been revised by the University providers to include a broader understanding of leadership concepts and practices currently operational within schools in Scotland.
Further information on SQH programmes can be found by contacting your local authority's SQH co-ordinator or viewing our Useful Links section.
Standards for Leadership and Management
For information about Headship, contact, Professional Learning and Development Department:
E: pld@gtcs.org.uk