A short, accessible level 7 module for school business professionals who want to demonstrate their strategic educational leadership.

Qualification value

20 credits at level 7

Aims of the module

This module provides a valuable opportunity for participants, either individually or as a group, to reflect critically on an area of personal or professional practice by engaging with appropriate literature and research in the negotiated field.

The ‘Negotiated Field’ is the area or topic that is being studied. This is agreed with the tutor at the start of the module. Examples of the negotiated field could include, a specific project you have worked on as an SBP, an area of the ISBL Professional Standards you want to research and develop in, or an area of strategic school leadership.

Learning Outcomes

1. Developed in-depth knowledge and understanding of the negotiated topic area;

2. Engaged critically in a systematic review of the literature pertinent to the negotiated topic area;

3. Critically evaluated and applied key concepts and theories related to the negotiated topic area;

4. Developed critical insights into the negotiated topic area.

Module content

• Introductory webinar

• Leadership theories

• Culture within education

• Critical incident analysis

• Leading change in education

• Assessment writing

This will be supplemented by a range of online resources including, but not limited to, a series of webinars, videos, PowerPoints, eBooks and journal articles.

Learners on this module will follow a high-level structure to their study but will be expected to work independently as they research and analyse their chosen negotiated topic area. This includes seeking support and advice from the module tutor as well as ensuring that all deadlines are met.

“Theories on management and leadership are developing constantly and evolving. Education is a changing landscape and it is important for me to have the skill sets to lead my teams towards positive outcomes for pupils in my school. No one ever gets it right 100% (certainly not me) but by learning and developing I strongly feel I can be the best I can be – that is what I always work towards with all training and qualifications such as this certificate.”
Fiona Gill

Assessments

Individuals will complete one written assessment of 4500–5000 words, covering the four learning outcomes stated above and the agreed element of tier 4 of the ISBL Professional Standards.

In order to pass the assessment, students will need to achieve a mark of at least 50%.

Who is the module aimed at?

The module is aimed at individuals who wish to continue their professional development at level 7 (masters level). You may want to:

• Demonstrate the level at which you are working at or are capable to working at. The module is open to anyone who currently works in school business role within an appropriate setting.

• Apply for ISBL Fellowship – If you do not already have a SBP qualification at level 6 or above, then completing the Certificate in Strategic School Leadership will allow you to meet the qualification requirements when applying for ISBL Fellowship.

• Ensure your knowledge and skills are current so that you can demonstrate not only your continued learning but also your strategic insight which could support you as you progress into executive and specialist roles.

• Research a specific area of interest to you as professional or one that will benefit your school/trust.

• Explore studying at this level without committing to a full PG Cert or Masters programme. Completing this module allows you to start to study at level 7 in a manageable and cost effective way, paving the way for further study and qualifications in the future.

Delivery

The Certificate in Strategic School Leadership is delivered 100% online. You will not need to attend any sessions at the University of Chester. All delivery is carried out via webinars, virtual tutorials, etc.

Duration

The module lasts one academic term. There are two cohorts per year, starting at the beginning of the Autumn and Spring terms.

What does the programme cost?

There is an ISBL member rate and a non-member rate for all our training programmes. All rates quoted below are inclusive of VAT and per person::

Member rate: £936

Non-member rate: £1,104

One of the benefits of being an ISBL member is being able to access the member rates for training and conferences. If you are not a member, you can find out more about joining ISBL here.

To be able to access the ISBL member rate, your membership needs to be active before you book your place on the programme.

We do not offer any payment plans. The full cost must be paid in full before you start the programme. The module is either paid for directly by your school/trust or it can be self-funded. It is separate from the apprenticeship scheme and unfortunately is not eligible for apprenticeship funding.

Progression routes

On completion, you could continue your study and complete two more modules to achieve a postgraduate certificate in educational leadership (PgC) qualification.

You do not have to do this immediately; you can take a break and then rejoin the University of Chester later on in the academic year to continue your studies.