John Swinney launches head teacher training scheme

John Swinney - Scottish Government

A training package for head teachers to develop leadership skills has been launched by Education Secretary John Swinney.

The Excellence in Headship programme has been developed with head teachers and directors of education by the Scottish College for Educational Leadership (SCEL).

It will be funded by the Scottish Government at a cost of £400,000 per year.

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The Deputy First Minister said he plans to publish his plans for changes to school governance in June, and it is thought the new course will support head teachers to lead system change, as well as linking with community champions.

While “local authorities have the role of democratic accountability for the education in system", he said, “more flexibility” is required.

He also announced entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter’s charitable foundation will provide £1m to support a series of head teacher leadership academies delivered by Skye-based social enterprise Columba 1400.

“Effective school leadership is key to the success of schools. As a result it’s vital we invest in our head teachers and support them to deliver superb schooling for children in Scotland,” said Swinney.

SCEL chief executive Gillian Hamilton said the Excellence in Headship programme will “provide an annual offering of innovative leadership professional learning opportunities for Scotland’s head teachers”.

Hunter said he was supporting leadership academies to develop “great leaders in our schools”.

“The pace of change in the world of work is an incredible challenge for our school leaders and teachers – 65 per cent of our young people joining primary school this year will go to jobs that don’t even exist today,” he said.