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Hyslop outlines new flexible routes into headteachership |
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Thursday, 31 July 2008 |
More flexible routes into headship may be made available to Scottish teachers under plans by the Scottish Government.
In a Scottish Government international school leadership conference in Edinburgh Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop outlined a “flexible routes pilot” developed by the Government to be piloted in a number of local authorities with a view to rolling the programme out nationally.
The Cabinet Secretary told delegates that while the current headteachers’ qualification, the Scottish Qualification for Headship (SQH), is having a positive impact, it should not be the only route into school leadership.
She said: “At present the SQH is not giving us sufficient numbers and that is why we are piloting different routes. We know there is demand for them within the educational community.”
An evaluation team from Cambridge and Glasgow Universities have produced draft findings which are supportive of the pilot, Hyslop added: “The evaluation team talks of us moving towards a mixed economy of provision that will complement rather than compete with SQH.
“I will need to consider in more detail the suggested changes to the pilot so that we can be in the best possible position to run a successful national roll out. I hope to do so over the coming months and I will aim to produce a flexible routes programme that meets the needs of both employers and aspirant headteachers.”
With recruitment of sufficient numbers of headteachers and succession planning a growing issue in Scottish education, new research into recruitment and retention by the Universities of Cambridge, Glasgow and Edinburgh was announced.
Hyslop said: “Amongst other objectives [the research project] will look to explore what prompts teachers to seek to become headtechers and what barriers they face and also to understand why some teachers do not have such aspirations and if there is anything that could change their minds.”
She told delegates she expected to receive the report towards the end of the year.
Hyslop also outlined plans to improve professional development for headteachers through coaching and mentoring initiatives. She said: “One strand we are developing is coaching and mentoring. There is much good work being done in Scotland on this front. We know that coaching develops school leaders and contributes to increased personal effectiveness in the role; becoming a coach or mentor has a positive impact on the coach or mentor’s own practice as leader; and coaching contributes to creating learning cultures and building learning communities in schools and local authorities.”
Readers have left 3 comments. 1. Hyslop outlines new flexible routes into headteachership
Anonymous, Unregistered Great idea, too often 'wrong'candidate press ahead. Instead of Education Dpt's looking for the 'cream' that are often busy in a department, overlooked and undervalued.
Investment of time & money is often too much for many female staff to even consider, as female mindset often place their own career behind family, children,hubbie etc. 2. Hyslop outlines new flexible routes into headteachership
Anonymous, Unregistered I think that not only routes to Headship should be looked at, but also workload, particularly in primary schools where there is no depute/assistant HT. Many who might have considered working towards headship see this as the end of life as they know it. Introduction of Chartered Teacher status has done what it proposed - given teachers the option not to seek promotion, therefore the job itself (of HT) needs to be re-assessed to make it a more attractive proposition. Finally, more weight needs to be given to the suitability of personalities to handle this role, and in particular, coaching them in interpersonal skills and dealing with conflict in a confident, business-like manner while exercising empathy with party/ies involved. 3. Hyslop outlines new flexible routes into headteachership
Martin Brown, Unregistered A couple of ideas. It could be useful to look at existing 'leaders' contracts to see how these can be refreshed, to be more performance orientated and not jobs for life. HTs have a responsibility to teachers and learners which must go beyond, self interest, league tables or short term goals. Also nclude those Chartered Teachers who have a strong interest in shared leadership in this new flexible approach.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 31 July 2008 )
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