Senior Leader Apprenticeship: Leading Innovation and Change MA

Program Overview

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Senior Leader Apprenticeship: Leading Innovation and Change MA

Overview

Take the next step in your education career with a master's degree apprenticeship that develops your practice through innovation.

Key Features

• Flexible degree allowing you to participate via school or MAT hubs, in person at St Mary's University or through the blended and online options.
• Apply your learning to practical situations within your own institution, using your learning to lead effective change.
• Access to excellent tutorial and supervisory support.
• Enables staff, schools and other organisations to advance skills and expertise in leadership through the development of a research culture.

Target Audience

If you currently work as a teacher or educational leader, our well-established master's degree will ideally suit your professional development needs. It's also suitable for other education professionals, such as business managers, chaplains, librarians, and data managers.

Program Description

The MA is designed to enable you, as a current or aspiring middle/senior leader, to reflect critically on your experience and understanding of leadership. You'll develop scholarly knowledge that allows you to link theory with your practice.

You'll have the opportunity to explore an area of interest and relevance to your professional role and career development as you undertake a small-scale practitioner research enquiry, leading to evidence-informed innovation.

How to Apply

Selection to this programme is made by employers as candidates should already hold a post with the employer and continue working for them throughout the duration of the apprenticeship. The candidate should initially speak to their HR department and/or manager to gain sign off to undertake this apprenticeship.

Once the employer agrees for the candidate to apply for the apprenticeship, the candidate should then email the relevant contact and complete an application form. If successful, the applicant will be offered a place at the University, and a place on the apprenticeship. Further information will then be sent by our team to the applicant and employer about how to enrol an apprentice and access funding.

Funding

Full programme cost is £14,000, entirely funded through an Employers’ Apprenticeship Levy. Your employer fully covers the cost of the apprenticeship, apprentices do not pay for any of the eligible training costs. As an apprentice you will be an employee of your organisation, gaining a St Mary's University MA award alongside working and earning a salary.

Employers who pay the Apprenticeship Levy will pay for the apprenticeship fees directly through that contribution. See further information on the Apprenticeship Levy funding.

Employers who do not pay the Levy will be able to claim 95% of the cost of the apprenticeship from the Government.

Why St Mary's

We have a long and proud tradition of excellence in teacher education. You'll work with a group of experienced tutors who provide you with high-quality teaching. The team have experience in teaching, management and leadership, as well as research and consultancy.

Leading Innovation and Change offers you a flexible approach to obtaining master’s degree. You can choose to attend monthly Saturday schools in person or via distance learning.

You'll apply your learning to practical situations within your own workplace, using your knowledge to drive effective change, whilst critically engaging with contemporary educational debates.

Studying this degree will also give you access to excellent online learning resources and facilities.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

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Overview:

The Senior Leader Apprenticeship: Leading Innovation and Change MA is a master's degree apprenticeship program designed to develop your practice through innovation.

• Access excellent tutorial and supervisory support.
• Enable staff, schools, and other organizations to advance skills and expertise in leadership through the development of a research culture.

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Program Description:

• Suitable for teachers, educational leaders, business managers, chaplains, librarians, and data managers.

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Outline:

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Program Content:

• Part 1: Foundations of Leadership
• Explores the nature of educational leadership, management, and governance.
• Examines the contexts for leadership in education, including policy, legislation, and social justice perspectives.
• Develops research skills and identifies suitable topics for individual research enquiry.
• Part 2: Leading Innovation and Change
• Investigates theoretical perspectives on innovation and change within educational settings.
• Analyzes practices and strategies for leading change effectively.
• Engages in collaborative development of innovative practice within the workplace.
• Part 3: Practitioner Research Enquiry
• Conducts a small-scale research project on a topic of interest and relevance to your professional role.
• Analyzes data and draws conclusions based on research findings.
• Disseminates research findings through a written report and presentation.

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Program Structure:

• Blended Learning: Combines online modules with face-to-face sessions.
• School or MAT Hubs: Offers flexibility to participate through your school or MAT hub.
• Full-time or Part-time: Allows you to choose a study pace that fits your needs.

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Course Schedule:

• Typically involves five modules per year, with two modules commencing in late September and three modules commencing in early January.
• Full-time students complete the program in one year, while part-time students complete it in two years.

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Individual Modules:

• Education, Leadership, and Management
• Contextual Perspectives on Education
• Research Skills and Professional Development
• Leading Innovation and Change in Education
• Innovation Through Collaborative Practice
• Practitioner Research Enquiry

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Module Descriptions:

• Education, Leadership, and Management: Explores theoretical perspectives on leadership and management in educational organizations.
• Contextual Perspectives on Education: Examines the social, political, and economic contexts of education in the UK.
• Research Skills and Professional Development: Develops research skills and identifies suitable topics for individual research enquiry.
• Leading Innovation and Change in Education: Investigate theoretical perspectives on innovation and change within educational settings.
• Innovation Through Collaborative Practice: Analyzes practices and strategies for leading change effectively and engages in collaborative development of innovative practice within the workplace.
• Practitioner Research Enquiry: Conducts a small-scale research project on a topic of interest and relevance to your professional role.

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Assessment:

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Assessment Methods:

• Essays
• Presentations
• Research reports
• Portfolios
• Reflective journals
• Professional discussions

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Assessment Criteria:

• Knowledge and understanding of key concepts and theories
• Critical analysis and evaluation
• Application of theory to practice
• Effective communication and presentation skills
• Ability to conduct research and draw conclusions
• Reflective practice

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Teaching:

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Teaching Methods:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Online discussions
• Independent study
• Action learning sets

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Faculty:

• Experienced tutors with expertise in leadership, education, and research.
• Team with experience in teaching, management, and leadership, as well as research and consultancy.

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Unique Approaches:

• Focus on practitioner research to ensure that learnings are relevant to your professional role.
• Access to extensive online learning resources and facilities.

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Careers:

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Potential Career Paths:

• Senior leadership positions in schools, colleges, and other educational settings.
• Consultant or advisor on educational leadership and innovation.
• Researcher or academic in the field of education.

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Career Opportunities:

• Headteacher
• Principal
• Vice-Principal
• Assistant Headteacher
• Director of Education
• Senior curriculum leader
• Education consultant
• Educational researcher

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Other:

• Suitable for both current and aspiring middle/senior leaders.
• Offered in partnership with School Improvement Liverpool.
• Funding is available through the Employer's Apprenticeship Levy.