About the programme
The Evolving Systems Thinking programme supports system level educators to enhance their leadership skills and experience through national collaborative working – with a strong focus on delivering excellence and equity for all children and young people in Scotland.
The content of the Evolving Systems Thinking Programme is founded on research that points to a clear and powerful connection between effective school-level and system-level leadership practices (Leithwood K, 2013). Understanding what effective schools and school-level leadership looks like is the crucial foundation for delivering effective system-level support and thinking.
The Evolving Systems Thinking programme is part of the Education Scotland/SCEL leadership professional learning offer and has been developed in partnership with the Ontario Principals’ Council. The programme is for school and system leaders with a remit for curriculum and pedagogical developments, quality processes and effective collaborative improvement across the system.
Programme aims
The programme aims to provide:
- opportunities to develop systemic perspectives and strategies with a focus on improving outcomes for children and young people
- development of system level Professional Learning Communities across the six Regional Improvement Collaboratives
- opportunities for enhanced collaborative working between heads of establishments and other system leaders
- enhanced knowledge and understanding of a range of approaches to develop new capacities and cultures for professional learning and the attainment of children and young people.
The delivery model is based on the principles of andragogy and is an engaging mix of theory, practice, collaborative learning, face to face and digital learning and engagement.
The programme does not carry credit however there is an opportunity to gain a certificate following assessment from the Ontario Principals’ Council.
Evolving Systems Thinking consists of six modules, delivered over three residential learning events.