Leadership Awards 2022
Congratulations to all those who achieved the Standard for Headship through the Into Headship programme and who completed the In Headship programme. We hope you enjoy the messages below and join us using #leadGTCSES on @gtcs and @EdScotPLL to share your experience of the programmes and your photos.
More videos and photos from the live event will be shared here by 25 May 2022.
The Standard for Headship/Into Headship Roll Call
In Headship Roll Call
Victoria Smith, Director of Education, Registration and Professional Learning, GTC Scotland
Gayle Gorman, HM Chief Inspector, Education Scotland
Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
Dolly Parton once said, ‘If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.’ Throughout your own journey, you will hopefully have been inspired by others to think big, take risks and become your own kind of leader. Throughout the past 2 years where the profession has had to think bigger, be stronger and provide more flexibly than ever before, we would like to congratulate you for your resilience, your grit and your determination to focus on your own professional learning journey, reaching a positive outcome today. Within Aberdeen City, we are so fortunate to have dedicated and passionate leaders of learning and it is with great pleasure we join you in celebrating your achievements today through the completion of the Into Headship programme. We look forward to continuing to work with you as you progress on your professional learning journey.
Congratulations to: Sarah Bell, Burnside Primary School; Ken Bygroves, Carnoustie High School; Sarah Hendry, St Thomas’ Primary School; Pippa Landsburgh, Grange Primary School; Kellie Smith, Tannadice Primary School; Joy Christie, Inverbrothock Primary School on their successful completion of the Into Headship qualification.
Their commitment to professional learning whilst undertaking leadership roles in our schools is admirable. Their learning will benefit their colleagues throughout Angus and the children and young people in their schools. Thank you all for your contribution to improving outcomes for our children, young people and families.
Kelly McIntosh, Director of Education and Lifelong Learning, Angus Council
Everyone at Dundee City Council would like to congratulate Denise Derby and Judith Duncan for successfully completing Into Headship and achieving the Standard for Headship. We’re very proud of their achievement. We would like to thank Denise and Judith for their leadership of, and their commitment to, continuous improvement. Congratulations!
Congratulations to the future leaders of East Dunbartonshire Council. We are very proud of your efforts to complete your Into Headship award. I look forward to working with you in the future.
Greg Bremner, Chief Education Officer
On behalf of East Lothian Council congratulations to our Cohort 6 participants on gaining the Scottish Qualification for Headship. You are to be commended for seeing your studies through to successful completion in such challenging times. The knowledge, skills and experience you have gained over the course of the I2H programme will stand you in good stead for headship.
In East Renfrewshire, we are very proud that our two Into Headship candidates, Jacqueline Dunn and Melanie McGurren, have achieved the Standard for Headship. Despite the particular challenges of the last two years, both have worked tirelessly to participate fully in all aspects of the programme in order to gain the maximum benefit. We wish them every success throughout the rest of their careers, and we would also like to thank their coaches and other staff who have supported them on their journey through Into Headship.
Huge congratulations on everything that you have accomplished in the successful completion of the Into Headship programme.
Mhari-Louise Teden
Well done and congratulations to our Falkirk colleagues within cohort 6 of Into Headship on your successful completion of the programme! Despite the ongoing challenges and complexity over the last year, you have successfully managed to juggle a range of shifting priorities and shown great commitment to your professional development. You should be immensely proud of your achievements. We know that the strategic changes you have led and adapted in response to an ever-changing landscape will continue to impact positively on the children and young people within your school communities.
Your engagement with leadership theories and practice, supported by our university partners and peers, will undoubtedly support your future development as a school leader… Congratulations to our Fab Falkirk Folk!
Huge congratulations and professional respect to our Highland Into Headship 6 cohort for achieving the Standard for Headship. The commitment shown during the most challenging of times is admirable. It is very encouraging for the future of Highland learners to see dedicated colleagues receiving professional recognition in this way.
Despite the significant challenges you have faced in recent times as a result of the pandemic, you have demonstrated resilience and true leadership qualities through your achievement of the Standard for Headship. We congratulate you and are extremely proud of your achievement.
On behalf of everyone at North Lanarkshire Council, I would like to offer my heartfelt
congratulations on successfully completing the Into Headship Programme. We know what a significant commitment it involves, particularly during these unprecedented times.
We wish you every success and happiness in your future careers.
Janie O’Neill, Head of Service (South)
Warmest congratulations to all our PKC colleagues within Cohort 6 of Into Headship! Your dedication and commitment to your own professional development is outstanding and will ensure you continue to offer the best service to our schools and ultimately provide the best learning opportunities for all the young people you work with.
Your professionalism throughout your career, and this course, are an
inspiration to others. I hope you enjoy your ceremony, your day and a successful career moving forward.
Bernadette Martin-Scott
Being a headteacher is a challenging and fulfilling role and I am delighted to be able to congratulate all of our successful Into Headship graduates from Cohort 6. In Renfrewshire we are committed to ensuring that our aspiring headteachers are supported to develop and build the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding required of senior leaders in our schools. You have all worked incredibly hard and shown huge commitment under very challenging circumstances. I look forward to continuing to support you in your ongoing leadership journey and wish you every success on your next step. Well done Paula, Lynne, Louise, Andrew, Tony, Mhairi and Graeme!
Tracy McGillivray, Head of Service
One of the most significant investments we make as a Council, is in learning and
development. Completing this qualification alongside the other priorities in your lives (not least your work), is a testament to the care you have for the children and young people you teach. Your commitment to being the best so they can thrive is admirable! Congratulations to Anne Marie Scollay, Paul Gill and Gemma Sjoberg.
Maggie Sandison Chief Executive, Shetland Islands Council
All in South Ayrshire Education services would like to send their warmest and most sincere congratulations to our successful candidates, Andrew, Sarah, and Julie.
Masters level learning, while continuing to work effectively in post is a challenge for anyone. Throw a global pandemic into the mix and it is simply outstanding.
We are very proud of their magnificent achievement during these most difficult times. It is of no surprise to us that these graduates are already effective headteachers.
Congratulations to Stirling Council’s successful Into Headship Participants; Matthew, Lisa, Caroline, Gael, Jen, Gillian and Aileen. You are all proving the success of the course by having a real impact on children in your leadership positions within Stirling or our regional partnership area.
What an achievement, particularly in such challenging times!
Message from Educational Services, WDC
Congratulations Maureen, Jennifer, Ashley and Matt on your fantastic achievement. Your hard work and dedication have led to great success. Well done from your colleagues in West Dunbartonshire.
- Message from Margaret MacLeod, HT to Jennifer Murphy
Dear Jen - A huge congratulations on achieving your Into Headship Award. It’s so well deserved after all your hard work and commitment to making your strategic change project such a great success. You will be an inspiring headteacher and make such a positive difference to many more staff, families and children in the years to come.
- Message from Matthew Boyle, HT to Matt Hooper
Matt’s involvement in the Into Headship award has been fabulous for him and for our
school. He has really engaged with the professional reading and has in turn driven really rich dialogue amongst our leadership team. His project has significantly refocused the school on using the ideas and leadership of our middle leaders in solving problems and driving school improvement. Matt will be a really fantastic headteacher, and the Into Headship programme has contributed massively to helping him to become far more aware of the thinking underpinning his decision making. My warmest congratulations to Matt on achieving this award.- Message from Amanda Feeley, HT to Maureen McHugh
Congratulations Maureen on achieving your into Headship. We recognise all the hard work, perseverance and determination that went into this achievement.
Your commitment to your profession and to the children in your care is evident in all that you do and this really shone through in your Into Headship work.
We are all so very proud of you at St. Kessogs not only for this achievement but for
managing to complete it during a pandemic.
You are truly an authentic and inspiring leader.- Message from Jacqui Lynam, HT to Ashley Hercus
Congratulations Ashley on gaining your Into Headship qualification. During this time I have seen you grow and believe in yourself as a leader. It has been a privilege working with you through this experience and seeing the impact your work has had on the young people within our school.
As Goethe quoted “Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen”. Ashley, you will be at the helm of your own school one day and lead it in such a way that will improve the life chances of many young people. I am so very proud of you.
Although it has been another challenging, stressful, exhausting year, you have managed through it all to remain focused and committed to not only your school communities but also to your professional development. Whilst we must recognise the struggles and difficulties many have had over this time, there have been positives too. Think of the skills you have developed, the personal and professional opportunities for learning and growth, and most importantly, the influence your leadership will have had on your school community. You have held down the day job, whilst studying towards a Masters level qualification, through a global pandemic and the subsequent period of planning for what’s next for your children and young people; consequently, you should be rightly proud of yourselves, because we are most certainly proud of you.
I wish you, your families and those you lead and care for all the very best of luck going
forward and thank you for your continuing commitment to making things different and better for Scotland’s young people. Many congratulations everyone.
Tara Harper, Headship Lead
Huge congratulations to all who have gained the In Headship qualification. You have shown tremendous commitment and resilience in your roles as Headteachers by undertaking and successfully completing this qualification. This is especially true with the additional challenges the Covid pandemic has presented in recent years. You are shining examples of what it means to be a lifelong learner and great role models for the school communities you lead.
I wish you the very best in your future career paths.
Congratulations to Into Headship Cohort 6 and In Headship Cohort 4 of 2020/2021 on your outstanding achievement in successfully completing the course during the most challenging of times through the ongoing global pandemic.
In particular, our very sincere congratulations to the University of Stirling participants – it has been a privilege and pleasure to work with you on the MSc in Educational Leadership programme. Your remarkable leadership, professionalism, resilience and energy in leading your schools through such a challenging time have had a notable
impact on your professional learning, that of your colleagues and most importantly on the children and young people in your schools.
Well done. Keep on reading, questioning, critiquing, collaborating, learning and leading… We wish you continued success in your career, especially now as you endeavour to address the many complex challenges in shaping education for young people in Scotland over the coming weeks, months and years.
We are sorry that we are not able to meet in person to raise a glass to celebrate but we hope that you take time today to reflect and enjoy celebrating with family and friends to mark this notable achievement.
Honourary Associate Professor Valerie Drew and Emeritus Professor Cate Watson
Teacher Leadership
For a future edition of Teaching Scotland magazine, we’ll be discussing ways in which teachers can feel empowered to be leaders of and for learning in their classroom and their school. As school leaders, we would appreciate your completion of this short survey to help inform the articles.