Section 7 - Training
The Act (section 14(4)) requires education authorities to ensure that adequate training is made available to all who participate in the appointments process. This must include training for parental representatives, aside from existing provision made for elected members and council officers. It is envisaged that areas to be covered by training will include:
- the appointments process and any legal issues. Panels must adhere to the principles of open and fair competition;
- assessment techniques and methods;
- analysis of information;
- use of the Standard for Headship;
Standard for Headship
Appointment panels should satisfy themselves that any candidate that they propose to appoint has the appropriate professional and personal skills and knowledge required for the post in question.
Appointment panels will wish to assess applicants for appointment against the nationally agreed expectations of the qualities a Headteacher should possess. The Standard for Headship (SfH) sets out these qualities. Appointment panels will need to satisfy themselves that candidates have achieved the Standard for Headship, whether by completion of the Scottish Qualification for Headship ( SQH) or by some other means such as a competency based interview or assessment centre techniques. Also individual posts will require different aspects of the SfH to be given more prominence.
The SfH was first published in 1998 and subsequently revised in November 2005. The purpose of the SfH is to define the leadership and management capabilities of Headteachers. The SfH defines the professional actions required of effective Headteachers, acknowledges the changing context in which they operate and takes account of the many challenges which they face. It also serves to inform, challenge and enthuse Headteachers, and those aspiring to headship, and to offer a template against which they can match their experiences and skills in order to determine their strengths and areas for development. The SfH analyses the role of the Headteacher into professional actions, and three essential elements which are:
- Strategic vision, values and aims;
- Knowledge and understanding; and
- Personal qualities and interpersonal skills.
Illustrative examples of these are given in the SfH.
The Scottish Executive will continue to ensure that the SfH is refreshed and sharpened to remain valid.