Those who are willing to work alongside others to build a better school community, to overcome challenges and
obstacles and who desire to improve the learning for the students in their care.
Those who have additional responsibilities outside of the classroom and play a formal role in the school’s
leadership team.
May be teacher/middle leaders, who in their schools hold either a formal or informal leadership role,and aspire to
the role of deputy principal or principal.
School leaders who have completed three years in the role.
School leaders in the first three years of senior leadership.
Those who successfully lead in their own school or organisation, and work collaboratively to drive system
improvement.
REFLECTION ON PRACTICE
Reflective practice is the ability to reflect on one’s actions to engage in a process of continuous learning. This
involves paying critical attention to the values and theories which inform everyday actions, by examining practice
reflectively.
RELEVANT EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Experiential learning can be both formal and informal. It involves action as well as reflection. These approaches
enable leaders to identify and address issues through gathering and using evidence to inform practice.
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
The renewed focus on the school leader as a leader of learning makes use of new knowledge and the engagement
with new ideas and perspectives an important component of professional learning for leadership. Reading and
research provide an alternative view and a different lens through which a leader can view his or her practice.
FLEXIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE
Professional learning should be linked to the needs of the participants and should be responsive to the culture and
context in which the school leader works. Indeed, research highlights the importance of the availability of
professional learning relevant to specific need in promoting greater engagement.
INDIVIDUAL AND COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
Through sharing best practice and communicating via modern and traditional methods we can advance our learning.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
The Looking at Our School 2016 Framework for Leadership and Management, published by the Department of
Education and Skills Inspectorate, is designed for school leaders to use in enhancing the quality of leadership in
their schools.
