Postgraduate Course: Analysis of School's Capacity for Change (EDUA11121)

Course Outline
School	Moray House School of Education	College	College of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	20	ECTS Credits	10
Summary	This course provides a link between the national perspectives and evaluation focus provided in Course 1 and the context of the individual student's school. It will also help to provide the student with a relevant personal learning focus for the comparative study of Course 3. In order to plan and implement a successful work based learning project (to inform courses 4/5) to effect school improvement, the student needs to: a) Analyse the school's capacity and need for change b) Construct a school improvement project plan to bring about the necessary operational and strategic changes to support a successful improvement project which has impact on the culture, ethos and practice of the school and which will enhance pupils' experience and achievement.
Course description	Not entered

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites		Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	Applicants are required to have the following: a) A reference from their headteacher. b) Local Authority funding. c) A successful outcome from a Local Authority application and interview process. d) Current GTCS registration. e) 5 years minimum teaching experience.

Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered

Learning Outcomes
Students will understand: a) The value and purpose of conducting an in depth analysis of their school and how to identify appropriate contextual strategies b) Some of the key dilemmas in the school improvement literature e.g. social context, attainment v. achievement, compliance v. creativity c) The importance of involving the whole school community in the process d) How to make links between their analysis, the comparative study and the detail of the school improvement project plan e) The importance of school improvement planning in the wider context of the school, the Local Authority and the Scottish Executive Education Department and HMIE. Students will be able to: a) Produce a comprehensive analysis of how their school currently functions across a range of operational aspects reflecting the school improvement literature b) Use the findings from their analysis to inform the focus of a comparative study in Course 3 c) Produce a comprehensive plan for school improvement, which incorporates specific strategies for improving aspects of the functioning of the school d) Match the plan to the Standard for Headship to ensure competence in all elements can be demonstrated by the end of the project.