The Post-Qualifying Leadership (PQL) programme is designed to support new and aspiring leaders in schools, Further Education Colleges and other educational settings to deliver whole school improvement. The units on the programme are led by experienced leaders from across the primary, post-primary and College sectors.
Each unit on the programme lasts six weeks, and classes are held online on Tuesday evenings. As each unit is standalone, you do not have to commence studies at Unit 1. All units are delivered through blended online learning. Each unit with attainment and an assignment. The fees for each unit are £260 for attainment or £210 for attendance. Attainment is advised on all units.
Students should study and book, only one or two units at a time.
Leadership Courses PQL 2025 2026
| Unit Name | Start Date | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1: Developing Resilience & Supporting Wellbeing as a Leader | Tues 7th October 2025 5:15-7:15pm | Application link will be released soon |
| Unit 2: Coaching and Mentoring for Performance Improvement | Tues 20th January 2026 5:15-7:15pm | Application link will be released soon |
| Unit 3: Management Skills Training I (Strategic Management) | Tues 24th March 2026 5:15-7:15pm | Application link will be released soon |
| Unit 4:Management Skills Training II (Operational Leadership) | Tues 5th May 2026 5:15-7:15pm | Application link will be released soon |
| Unit 5: Building a Champion Team in School or College as a Learning Leader | Tues 7th October 2025 7:15-9:15pm | Application link will be released soon |
| Unit 6: Values and Governance: Ethical and Moral Leadership | Tues 20th January 2026 7:15-9:15pm | Application link will be released soon |
Developing Resilience and Supporting Wellbeing as a Leader
This unit focuses on wellbeing for leaders, and developing resilience through enhanced problem-solving skills. Models of good practice and research are shared by experienced tutors who will assist you to reflect and develop higher level thinking skills in support of effective evidence-based leadership.
Coaching and Mentoring for Performance Improvement
Coaching and mentoring are integral to the professional learning journey. This unit supports the introduction of good practice teaching and learning improvement, best practice sharing and excellence in terms of whole- school instructional leadership.
This programme, alongside experiential learning (RPEL), can provide a route for progression to the work-based MTeach masters pathway.
Management Skills Training I (Strategic Leadership)
Strategic management is a part of the leadership that even enterprising leaders struggle with, to find the time or resource to support creativity and visionary objectives. This unit offers guidance for strategy development, continuous planning, monitoring, performance analysis and the evaluation of strategic outcomes.
Management Skills Training II (Operational Leadership)
Managing people, budgets, resources, governance and administration are core skills of effective leadership. This unit provides practical case-studies to upskill leaders in applied strategies for operational management and ensures managers at all levels are equipped to improve teaching excellence.
Building a Champion Team in School or College as a Learning Leader
This unit focuses on the development of ‘teams’ and learning leadership approaches that achieve the aim of whole-school improvement focusing on effective teaching and learning and the entire learning journey, through to employment (careers education). These are principle objectives for all schools and colleges. Staff will promote best practices in the development of a communities of practice model of ‘team’ and ‘champion’ leadership, focusing on key teaching and learning challenges for us in education. This unit will support leaders in the design of school/college wide team management with the aim of managing and leading people. This model may be replicated in any area of curriculum or policy development while the focus on this unit will be learner transition including a focus on careers education and employability for all.
Leadership Values and Governance: Ethical and Moral Leadership
This unit addresses balancing professional values and social responsibility; duty and responsibility; social and professional codes of best practice; leadership styles, skills and practices. Lead practitioners offer insights into the developments in leadership and education, to support shared education.
If you require further information or to be added to our mailing list please email cpd@stran.ac.uk or download the course flyer here.
Past student, Dawn, explains more about the PQL Programme below: