The changing role of the headteacher in Scottish education: implications for career-long teacher education

Mitchell, A. , Torrance, D. , Harvie, J. , Forde, C. and McMahon, M. (2023) The changing role of the headteacher in Scottish education: implications for career-long teacher education. In: Mifsud, D. and Day, S. P. (eds.) Teacher Education as an Ongoing Professional Trajectory: Implications for Policy and Practice. Series: Teacher education, learning innovation and accountability. Springer: Cham, pp. 181-204. ISBN 9783031286193 (doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-28620-9_9)

Abstract

This chapter critically explores educational policy directives related to the changing role of headteachers (principals) and considers the implications for career-long teacher education. It interrogates changing policy articulations of the role of the headteacher internationally then, through thematic analysis, the Scottish context in ‘An Empowered System’ (Scottish Government, 2019a) (hereafter SG) and the Professional Standards (General Teaching Council for Scotland, 2019a) (hereafter GTCS). The three themes identified: Cultivating Culture, Privileging Context and Community and Leadership of Professional Learning are synthesised to generate understanding of the expectations of headteachers to develop and lead collaborative cultures of professional learning. The chapter draws on findings from the ‘Future of Headship’ data, generated though the Delphi Method, to examine the tensions and issues experienced by school leaders in their leadership of learning communities in a case study school. The chapter concludes by considering the implications for the role of headteachers in leadership of career-long teacher education.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McMahon, Professor Margery and Harvie, Dr Julie and Forde, Prof Christine and Mitchell, Ms Alison and Torrance, Dr Deirdre
• Authors: Mitchell, A., Torrance, D., Harvie, J., Forde, C., and McMahon, M.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education; College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Educational Leadership & Policy
• Publisher: Springer
• ISBN: 9783031286193
• Published Online: 27 April 2023