MA in Educational Leadership 2023/24 entry

Course code:

Online Only - CRBT008
Blended course - CRBT006

Study options:

2 years part-time

 

Location:

In schools

Starting:

September 2023
January 2024
April 2024

Fees:

£5,000(online)
£6,500(blended) - September entry only

Find out more

Faculty:

National Institute of Teaching and Education


Get in touch

National Institute of Teaching and Education

+44 (0)2477 650660


Enquire online

Course code:

Online Only - CRBT008
Blended course - CRBT006

Study options:

2 years part-time

 

Location:

In schools

Starting:

September 2023
January 2024
April 2024

Fees:

£5,000(online)
£8,000(blended) - September entry only

Find out more

Faculty:

National Institute of Teaching and Education


Get in touch

National Institute of Teaching and Education

+44 (0)2477 650660


Enquire online

Overview

Our MA in Educational Leadership is a taught Master’s course that is delivered either entirely online or via a blended delivery model (online and in-person). The blended version includes two 3-day residentials at our campus near Silverstone each term. The course is designed for current or aspiring senior leaders. You will have at least five years’ experience in schools and be in an existing leadership or management position in primary or secondary schools in the UK or internationally.

The aim of the course is to improve the quality of leadership in schools. The course materials have been written by successful head teachers who have combined their experience leading schools with extensive research into the literature on leadership theory. The result is a taught course, which will expose you to real leadership expertise. It aims to give you a comprehensive understanding of the principles that define effective leadership and the personal skills to implement them.

Our course maintains that:

  • the skills of effective leadership can be learnt and improved.
  • there is no single and exclusive inherited leadership characteristic.
  • by developing an understanding of the core principles for effective leadership and applying these principles in an authentic manner, responding appropriately to the context, then the abilities of a leader can be improved.

The course promotes the principle that effective leadership makes a significant difference to the culture of a school, the well-being and effectiveness of its staff, and the quality of teaching & learning, all of which impact on outcomes for pupils. The course develops authentic practical skills through the use of The Harvard Business School Case Study Method, in which analysis and discussion of professionally useful approaches to real- life scenarios help to develop the skills and principles of effective leadership.

Register your interest

Course information

Our MA in Educational Leadership is a taught Master’s course that is delivered either entirely online or via a blended delivery model (online and in-person). The blended version includes two 3-day residentials at our campus near Silverstone each term. The course is designed for current or aspiring senior leaders. You will have at least five years’ experience in schools and be in an existing leadership or management position in primary or secondary schools in the UK or internationally.

Our course maintains that leadership problems can be seen from the point of view of a 'principle', and we explore how leaders can apply these through their own personality and individual skill-sets. The principle-driven approach is a strength of the course, and the materials are designed to be helpful and developmental for school leaders in their day-to-day professional lives.

We will introduce you to a comprehensive range of academic material including theories of leadership, human psychology and current research on memory and learning. These are linked to practical application and relevance in leading modern educational institutions. Furthermore, the course uses real-life case study materials to reassure you that leadership can also be a source of amusement, inspiration and eccentricity.

The course comprises six mandatory modules, with study culminating in a final ‘action-research’ project. It is typically studied on a part-time basis over two academic years (six school terms), but this can be flexible. In line with the academic regulations, students can request for study to be paused or extended to aid personal or professional circumstances.

The course is also designed to be flexible in its delivery. It offers the option to study on a modular pathway with optional exit awards that would result in the award of either Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Leadership (PG Cert 60 credits level 7) or Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership (PG Dip 120 credits level 7).

The blended version of the course includes two 3-day residentials at our Silverstone campus, which will bring course participants together and provide peer support and a valuable collaborative learning environment for students to learn from one another. Accommodation and meals for the residentials are included in the course fee.

The blended course is available for September start dates. The online course is available for September, January and April start dates.

Course Specification
Download Course Specification

Modules

Overview

A university tutor will be assigned to you, who will conduct a pre-course self-analysis discussion with you through online conferencing. The discussions aim to ascertain your current leadership experience and identify your aims for studying the course. There will also be opportunities to begin to talk about your final project, as it is an activity which will support the development of your leadership skills throughout the course. Your university tutor should also act as your main contact during course discussions and responses to case study materials presented online. In the first year, we aim to present you with a clear set of values, behaviours and approaches through the teaching of theory, key skills and central themes and fundamental principles of effective leadership. The online materials try and provide a rich and compelling narrative. They aim to explore theoretical and research-based evidence of effective leadership approaches, the importance of institutional culture and the needs of leaders and followers. You are presented with a variety of case study exercises which draw out the central themes, and critical evaluation and the development of effective, individual approaches to each vignette is encouraged.

Modules

  • Leadership Theory

    This module aims to develop and enhance your understanding of the fundamental theories and principles which underlie effective leadership in schools. This is enriched by a varied collection of case studies from a range of settings. Students critically evaluate leadership concepts and apply them to their own practice.

  • Leadership of Culture

    This module introduces you to the importance of institutional culture. It explores analytical models which provide a research base for understanding how cultures operate in a school context. The module investigates the features of leadership behaviour that determine a school’s culture and how change is inspired and inhibited.

  • Leadership of People

    This module develops your understanding of the effective leadership of the people in a school setting. You will critically reflect on key themes such as teacher and staff management, lesson observation, target setting and performance.

Overview

The course focuses on the development of confident, effective and inspirational leaders who draw on both theory and practice to apply strategies that impact positively on school performance. In the second and final year, there will be a strong emphasis on the leadership of teaching and learning. You will have the opportunity to study best practice research in teaching & learning, the professionalisation of teaching, the science of learning and the practical implications of theory for classroom practice. The course concludes with an opportunity for you to apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the course to undertake an extended piece of individual action-research which will show theory turning to practice. This dissertation is a leadership of change project drawing on the opportunities for educational leadership in your own context.

Modules

  • Leadership of Teaching and Learning

    This module aims to develop your ability to lead teaching and learning in a school setting and influence pupil outcomes. It aims to build expertise in the analysis of classroom performance, the science and theory of pedagogy and the development of teacher skills.

  • Action Research Proposal

    In this module, students have the chance to plan a substantive piece of individual research into leadership within their own context, applying theory to practice. You are supported with the additional research skills required, including online sessions on research methods and ethics in educational research.

  • Action Research Project

    Following the research proposal, you can implement your research project, investigating an area related to their professional practice. You will select an appropriate methodology, consider research design, methods and ethics. It should be presented in a written format to a Master’s level, interpreting your findings and making recommendations for its implementation.

In more detail...

  • Learn to apply your course to your job
  • Online, flexible study
  • Course content crafted by experience educational leaders
  • Designed to provide highly practical learning experiences
  • Suitable for leaders in all educational settings
  • Multiple start dates
  • 24/7 access to online learning materials
  • Designed to provide varied and engaging assessments
  • Leadership theory
  • Leadership of culture
  • Leadership of people
  • Leadership of teaching and learning

Online study including tutorials, group discussions, engagement with reading materials and case studies.

Assessment throughout the course is varied, engaging and designed to stimulate learning. It aims to include case study research, online discussions, written responses to real-life situations and longer written projects on ‘The Nature of Leadership’ and ‘The Leadership of Teaching and Teachers’.

In keeping with the course’s practical aspirations, you will also have the opportunity to complete an action-research project, in which you show how you apply theory to practice. This dissertation is a leadership-in-action or management of change project, and it should, therefore, involve the description and critical analysis of a process, over a period of time, rather than simply examining a theory or an issue.

On successful completion of the course, you should be able to:

  • Understand the principles that define effective leadership and use personal skills to implement them.
  • Integrate effective leadership theory into your professional practice.
  • Lead with confidence, implementing a clear vision for your school and helping teaching and non-teaching staff embody your desired culture.
  • Formulate processes that meet the performance, observation, target-setting and discipline needs of your school.
  • Critically evaluate the teaching and learning practice in education to identify opportunities for development.
  • Communicate with confidence and impact with other senior leaders.
  • Aim to progress in your career.

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any study abroad or international opportunities and that any such opportunities referred to on this webpage may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.

Entry Requirements

In order to gain entry to the course all students must:

  • hold an undergraduate degree, or equivalent as assessed by NARIC
  • be employed in a school or college for the duration of study
  • hold a leadership position in an educational setting as Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, Assistant Headteacher or a Middle Management position such as Head of Department, Head of Year or Head of House

In addition:

  • Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS of 6.5 overall, or equivalent

International students must undertake this course online. In order to gain entry to the course all students must:

  • hold an undergraduate degree, or equivalent as assessed by NARIC
  • be employed in a school or college for the duration of study
  • hold a leadership position in an educational setting as Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, Assistant Headteacher or a Middle Management position such as Head of Department, Head of Year or Head of House

In addition:

  • Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS of 6.5 overall, or equivalent

Fees and Funding

2023/24 fees

Starts

Fee


September 2023

£5,000(online)
£6,500(blended) - September entry only (per year)


January 2024

£5,000(online)
£6,500(blended) - September entry only (per year)


April 2024

£5,000(online)
£6,500(blended) - September entry only (per year)


Starts

Fee


September 2023

£5,000(online)
£8,000(blended) - September entry only (per year)


January 2024

£5,000(online)
£8,000(blended) - September entry only (per year)


April 2024

£5,000(online)
£8,000(blended) - September entry only (per year)


For the blended MA in Educational Leadership, the costs for accommodation, the venue and meals are included in the course fee. The cost of transport to and from the venue is the responsibility of the student.

Career prospects

The MA in Educational Leadership is designed to help you develop the skills needed for leadership in schools today.

Whether you’re an established head teacher, or looking to progress into a senior leadership role in your career, this course aims to expose you to real leadership expertise. It aims to give you a comprehensive understanding of the principles that define effective leadership and the personal skills to implement them.

You are encouraged to reflect on your own experiences and apply the action-based research project to your organisation.

Disclaimer

Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University. 

1Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

2UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

3Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

4Facilities

Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2023/24 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.