Advanced Diploma in School Leadership and Management
Education, Training and Development - Schooling
Purpose and Rationale
Qualification Information
Purpose
The purpose of this qualification is to empower and enable school leaders and managers to develop the skills, knowledge, and values needed to lead and manage schools effectively and efficiently. The qualification aims to promote personal and professional growth, enhance marketability and employability, and enable access to further education and training. The programme strives to improve collaborative and critical leadership, evidence-and action-research based decision making, efficient learning organizations, community engagement, nurturing school culture, and strengthening the school system.
Rationale
This qualification aims to facilitate the development of competent education leaders and managers to meet the growing demand in the education leadership and management market. It serves as an entry-level programme to principalship, providing a career-related professional qualification consistent with the roles of school principals and other leaders. By empowering educators with necessary skills and knowledge, the qualification contributes to improving education delivery while considering school diversity. Target learners include school principals, deputy principals, heads of department, district officials, and education leaders in other contexts. The high demand for specialized leadership and management skills necessitates this qualification to develop competent leaders, enhance marketability, and provide access to further education and training. Graduates of this qualification benefit society by contributing critical thinking and problem-solving skills to their workplaces, fostering visionary education communities.
Outcomes
- Apply theories in the various content domains with a view to evaluating different leadership and management practices.
- Display a deep and systematic understanding of current thinking, practice, theory and methodology in an area of specialisation.
- Produce a research project on education leadership and management that is relevant and informed by current theory.
- Encourage school leaders to reflect on their professional and personal development and ensure a high ethical standard in the practice of education leadership and management.
- Apply problem-solving strategies to everyday leadership and management challenges.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Explore and interrogate educational theories: Engage with a broad spectrum of educational theories related to leadership and management.
- Describe key frameworks and models: Explain the body of knowledge in leadership by describing key frameworks and models.
- Explain advantages and disadvantages: Determine the advantages and disadvantages of various leadership theories to identify the most relevant approach for specific leadership situations.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Show awareness of personal leadership strengths: Highlight areas for further development in personal leadership.
- Critically reflect on education leadership: Engage with literature to reflect on leadership and management theory.
- Conduct and report on own inquiry: Conduct and report on an inquiry into personal professional practice using an appropriate theoretical framework.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Conceptualise and articulate a theoretical lens: Develop a theoretical lens to guide research.
- Align research with ethical ethos: Ensure research practices align with the ethical ethos of the Faculty.
- Select appropriate methodologies: Choose appropriate methodologies considering quantitative and qualitative research principles.
- Design/select research instruments: Design or select research instruments considering validity and trustworthiness.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Explore instructional practices: Investigate essential instructional practices for leadership development.
- Plan for human resources: Develop strategic plans to meet organisational goals through human resource planning.
- Manage financial resources: Plan, organise, lead, and control financial management effectively and ethically.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Assess contentious issues: Identify and explore contentious issues in education leadership to inform research.
- Collect and manage data: Use appropriate technologies to collect, manage, and analyse data effectively.
Integrated Assessment:
- Assessment strategies: Include various assessment methods such as written assignments, tests, research projects, etc.
- Formative Assessment: Provide constructive feedback to support the learning process.
- Continuous assessment: Performance is determined by progress during the semester, not just the final examination mark.
- Final Summative Assessment: Includes the submission and moderation of a portfolio to assess outcomes in an integrated manner.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Advanced Diploma
- NQF Level
- 07
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.