New directions in headship education in Scotland

Abstract

High quality leadership at all stages of the system is identified as one of seven key drivers of school improvement in Scotland within the context of creating equitable, inclusive school systems. This chapter traces the influences on the development of a headship preparation programme in Scotland -Into Headship (the middle stage of the Specialist Qualification for Headship); the learning theories which underpin it (relating this to Philpott 2014) and the process by which aspiring headteachers take on the identity of headship, drawing from empirical data. This takes place within the context of the Scottish Attainment Challenge, calling for contextually sensitive innovation in practice and researchinformed learning and practice. ForewordThis chapter is written in memory of Professor Carey Philpott who shared an office with me when he wrote his first book -the inspiration for the chapter.The importance of high quality school leadership in effecting school improvement has been long acknowledged within the literature (MacBeath, Dempster, Frost, Johnson,