Advanced Diploma in School Leadership and Management
Education, Training and Development - Schooling
Purpose and Rationale
Qualification in Educational Management in School Leadership and Management
Purpose:
The purpose of the qualification is to empower and enable school leaders to develop the skills, knowledge, and values needed to lead and manage schools effectively and efficiently, work together in communities of practice, and contribute to improving the quality of delivery of education across the school system. The qualification consolidates and deepens a learner's expertise in Educational management in School leadership and Management.
Rationale:
The qualification provides a structured and professional learning pathway for current and aspirant school principals. It equips school principals with the knowledge and competences to manage and lead their schools effectively and in alignment with national goals. The qualification promotes professional and academic development so that the qualified learner can lead and manage the school and promote quality education.
The qualification empowers and enables school leaders to develop the skills, knowledge, and values needed to lead and manage schools effectively and efficiently by:
- Working together in communities of practice
- Contributing to improving the quality of delivery of education across the school system
- Emphasizing that schools exist to provide systematic, quality learning opportunities for children and that effective leadership and management of teaching and learning is a critical role for the school principal
- Complementing the leading and managing teaching and learning in schools by focusing on supporting effective leadership and management of extra- and co-curricular activities as integral to the development of well-rounded individuals
- Revealing the need for both theoretical understanding and practical competencies in leadership and management of people, to manage oneself and others in both the school and the wider school communities
Benefits:
The qualification provides benefits to the learner, society, and the economy. Qualified learners will be able to:
- Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively
- Collect, analyse, organise, and critically evaluate information
- Communicate effectively using visual, symbolic, and language skills in various modes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving context does not exist in isolation
- Reflect on and explore a variety of strategies to learn more effectively
- Participate as a responsible citizen in the life of local, national, and global communities
- Be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts
Outcomes
- Demonstrate a sound knowledge of policy and legislation that frames best practice in school leadership and management in South Africa, while locating, arguing for and contesting bodies of knowledge. The ability to do independent research and competence in scholarly exposition.
- Take full responsibility and accountability for managing school leadership, teaching and learning. Engage in school activities decision-making and projects, use of school and community resources in performing workplace tasks and projects.
- Reflect on and develop own personal leadership attributes and characteristics, collaboration, knowledge of systems and processes, and demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others in the school context and beyond.
- Gather, validate, critically reflect and evaluate information, and apply theories and knowledge around pedagogy, and leadership and management to address complex problems encountered within the school and educational context, in and outside the classroom.
- Demonstrate the ability to manage people and teams empathetically and firmly, encourage collaboration and develop and maintain sound working relationships with different stakeholders over time, and within a range of contexts such as collective bargaining, negotiation and dispute resolution.
- Select, and apply effective and innovative organisational systems and processes safety, to manage resources in a way that aligns with the school's vision and mission, as well as to ensure compliance with legislation, policy and best practice in addressing a range of organisational needs.
- Plan for, select and manage staff and teams, assess and evaluate the performance of school stakeholders, and work together to improve performance while insisting on full accountability for performance.
- Model ethical and values-driven leadership that adheres to professional standards of governance and Codes of Conduct for educators, and articulate individual decisions, and rules are applied.
- Communicate effectively and clearly with all school stakeholders across a range of issues and circumstances by using arguments and rationale effectively.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Read and discuss current debates/trends in education.
- Analyse contemporary literature, including the South African Standard for Principalship and the Personnel Administrative Measures, to identify critical success factors for school success.
- Conduct Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats (SWOT) analysis of own school and practice to identify areas for improvement.
- Present for peer critique and qualify priorities.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Submit a project proposal and plan to effect improvement.
- Develop and implement a strategy to get project stakeholders on board.
- Select, induct, and distribute leadership roles within a project team.
- Manage the implementation and monitoring of the plan using appropriate project management tools/instruments.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Evaluate the impact of the project and make recommendations for future practice.
- Keep a reflective journal outlining own experience of having, being, and developing a mentor.
- Propose the types of assessment that will best reflect one's personal, professional, and organizational development.
- Provide a Personal, Professional, and Organisational Development Plan.
Associated Assessment for Exit Level Outcome Criteria 4:
- Use case studies to highlight specific instances of leadership and management of teaching and learning.
- Devise an action plan to institute or improve on existing practices.
- Manage and filter staff professional development initiatives.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Brainstorm accountability and caring standards.
- Rehearse scenarios applying fairness, sensitivity, and confidentiality principles.
- Develop a detailed scenario of the school's staffing situation.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Write a motivation to the School Governing Body.
- Develop work plans for deployment, orientation, and induction of newly appointed staff.
- Role-play an orientation or induction discussion.
- Develop a work plan for mentoring the inexperienced staff member.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Design procedure for shortlisting, interviewing, selecting, and appointing with equity inclusion.
- Role-play interview questions.
- Develop a work plan for mentoring of the inexperienced staff member.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
- Develop work plans for work redesign and professional development of newly appointed staff.
- Apply soft and hard skills to identified problems in the school.
- Reflect on own responses to crisis and conflict.
- Analyse conflict/crisis/disciplinary scenarios and recommend appropriate responses.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:
- Model participatory and collaborative leadership style.
- Apply problem-solving, innovative, creative thinking, and communication skills to solve systemic problems.
- Understand legislative framework and policy related to school management.
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.