Leadership

Leadership is one of the central underpinning and interconnecting themes within the suite of Professional Standards and is a key aspect of teacher professionalism.

The Professional Standards place all teachers as leaders of and for learning. They lead learning for, and with, all learners and they work with and support the development of colleagues and other partners.

Equating leadership solely with the actions of those in formal leadership positions is, according to Spillane (2013), inadequate as leadership involves many leaders, some with, and some without, formal leadership positions: ‘It is not the actions of individuals, but the interactions among them, that are critical in leadership practice’. 

Teachers learn with and from each other and their collaborative endeavours contribute to the professional learning and development of colleagues, student teachers and the wider learning community.

Practitioner Enquiry

Teacher leadership is core to the principle of practitioner enquiry.

Practitioner enquiry involves teachers questioning their own educational beliefs, assumptions, values and practices.

Through adopting an enquiring stance to challenge and inform their professional practice, teachers individually and collaboratively develop knowledge to enhance, progress and lead the learning experiences of all their learners, including colleagues and partners.

Standard for Middle Leadership and Standard for Headship

The Standard for Middle Leadership and Standard for Headship recognise that effective leadership depends on the principles of collegiality and that all teachers should have opportunities to be leaders, who lead learning for, and with, all learners.

These Professional Standards focus on developing teacher leadership and working collegially to build leadership capacity in others.

Leadership in the National Model of Professional Learning

The National Model of Professional Learning places the teacher at the centre as the lead learner and explores the dynamic relationship between the learning of children, young people and adult learners and the teacher’s professional learning.

The model also positions ‘Leadership of and for learning’ as key, placing teachers as the drivers and enactors of change for improvement through their commitment to their own ongoing professional learning and development within and beyond their classrooms.

View the National Model of Professional Learning

Examples of leadership of and for learning

Excellence in Professional Learning Awards

Our Excellence in Professional Learning Award for Schools and Learning Communities recognises schools and learning communities which promote, support and lead professional learning which has significant and sustained impact on teachers, classroom practice and pupil learning.

In these clips from some of our previous award winners, teachers discuss the importance of leadership of and for learning.

Windygoul Primary School, East Lothian

Dunbar Primary School, East Lothian