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The Scottish Qualification for Headship
The introduction of a Scottish Qualification for Headship was announced in the Labour Party Manifesto prior to the last election, in recognition of the important influence that headteachers have on the quality of learning in schools.
Views about the qualification were sought from stakeholders in education during the summer of 1998. There was a general view that effective preparation for headship would be a good investment of resources, although some reservations about whether a qualification was necessary or not. However, if there was to be a qualification it should be a reflection of individuals' ability to carry out the demands of the role of headship in practice rather than just to know about it. In other words it should be related to individual's competence to carry out the demands of the job.
Therefore, the first task facing the development team, was to get agreement about the standard of competence that individuals required to be at when they were appointed to their first headship. After a great deal of consultation, the Standard for Headship in Scotland was determined. It describes the key purpose of headship and the three separate elements that together make up competence for headship. These elements are:
| The Professional Values: | Why actions are planned and taken |
| The Management Functions: | What tasks have to be undertaken by headteachers |
| The Professional Abilities: | How the tasks are done, which interpersonal and intellectual abilities are drawn upon to undertake them. |
A development programme has been planned to support teachers wishing to gain the qualification. It is divided into four learning units. The programme is illustrated in the following diagram:
The four units are equivalent in terms of work to a post-graduate diploma. At least five-eighths of the work is related to practical work undertaken in schools. Therefore, local authorities and headteachers have a vital role to play in supporting individuals who have the potential to become good school leaders and giving them the chance to develop their capabilities.
The final unit involves a number of different elements:
The process will culminate in a rigorous assessment of the candidates against the entire standard. This involves a critique of practice, a look at a particular management issue and a comparative study in another organisation and a mock interview for a case study school.
Successful candidates will get both a Diploma and the professional award of the Scottish Qualification for Headship from the Scottish Executive. After a Scottish parliament is in place, it is likely that the role of the GTC will be extended so that it has a formal role to play in conferring the professional award.
Some candidates will be ready to move more quickly to the professional award because they have already developed the competences. This should be a possible option.
The authorities of Argyll and Bute, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Highland, North Lanarkshire and Scottish Borders are helping to develop the programme and during the 1998/9 year there are a number of brave souls from those authorities helping to pilot various aspects of the learning units, support systems and assessment processes.
The SQH programme should be formally launched by the Scottish Executive for Education on February 16th 1999 and from August next year we hope that teachers from authorities in all parts of Scotland will begin a new high quality development programme which will make the early stages of their headship more effective.
The Scottish School Board Association is planning three conferences in March so that School Board members can be kept up to date with developments in relation to the Scottish Qualification for Headship. Dates for these conferences are:
Viv Casteel and Jenny Reeves National Development Officers SQH
Further information can be obtained from the SQH Development Unit Tel: 0141-950-3688
