SLS Professional Learning Programme 2025/2026
SLS is the key provider of professional learning for school leaders across Scotland.
Following on from a highly successful programme in the previous academic year, our programme for this session will again reflect the needs of members with regards to current educational issues. It will draw on the skills and experiences of current school leaders, as well as having input from our expanding network of partners. The full programme is available to view on our website with regular updates being sent to members through the Professional Learning Newsletter and emails from our General Secretary.
The professional learning programme has been expanded to include opportunities for networking through our newly established professional reading group, Pressing Pause. Dates for all session are shown in our professional learning calendar.
We are delighted to share with colleagues the dates of our Business Manager Forum meetings. This is an opportunity for Business Managers, and those doing similar roles, to meet up with a view to sharing ideas and exploring possible creative solutions to common challenges.
info@sls-scotland.org.uk
PLEASE REMEMBER TO ACTION A PURCHASE ORDER FROM YOUR SCHOOL OFFICE ON MAKING YOUR RESERVATION.
IF NO PURCHASE ORDER RECEIVED, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CANCEL YOUR BOOKING
Our Business Managers Forum meetings provide colleagues with an excellent opportunity to meet with colleagues who do similar roles in schools around the country. In this space, discussions can be held openly and freely about the many associated challenges of such roles with a view to finding support and possible creative solutions.
The dates of the sessions are timed to take place prior to meetings of the Executive/Council. This will allow the Business Manager Representative on Executive/Council to gather the views of Business Manager members prior to attending those meetings, thus ensuring a strong voice for those who carry out such vital roles in our schools.
Our dates for 25-26 are:
- Monday 25th August, 3.00-4.00pm
- Monday 27th October 3.00-4.00pm
- Monday 16th February, 3.00-4.00pm
- Monday 11th May, 3.00-4.00pm
All sessions will take place online via Teams webinar. Please register for each individual session.
Cost of attending:
Members – Free
Non-members - £50
SLS encourages all Headteachers to support the release of their Business Managers to allow attendance at the events.
Business Managers Forum 25.8.25 Register Here
Join us at this session led by Dr Pauline Stephen, Chief Executive and Registrar, The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC Scotland).
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Pauline will provide a brief overview of the work of GTC Scotland rooted in teaching standards, and share current data about registration numbers, the views of new teachers and those that have left the profession.
GTC Scotland improvement activity focused on the delivery of a new digital platform and changes to fitness to teach work will be highlighted.
Pauline will finish by sharing GTC Scotland’s ‘asks’ of politicians in the run up to next year’s elections. |
This event is suitable for all school leaders.
This event is open to both members and non-members.
Cost of attending:
Members - Free
Non-members - £50
Join us at this event at which we will hear from a number of colleagues about innovative curricular practice involving collaboration with partners in industry and also with schools in the independent sector.
Collaborative projects discussed will include:
Skills for the Future
The City of Edinburgh Council, supported by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) and other industry partners, including Education Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority, and Historic Environment Scotland, is spearheading a pilot National 5 qualification in Creative Industries Roof Slating. Five schools across Scotland this academic year participated offering students a term of a hands-on introduction to roofing. Greg McDowall Headteacher at Portobello High School, Edinburgh will discuss this groundbreaking initiative.
Sharing Innovation
Philip Ford, Director of Innovation at the High School of Glasgow and founder of START, an entrepreneurship initiative focussed on developing skills for the modern economy and Danni Cohen, Principal Teacher of Business, Education and Computing science at St Thomas Aquinas RC Secondary School will be explaining the benefits of the programme for all pupils who have taken part.
State and Independent schools working together
Perth Grammar and Strathallan schools work closely across a range of areas which have resulted in good outcomes for young people and the staff at the two schools. Fiona Robertson, Headteacher at Perth Grammar School and Mark Lauder, the Headmaster at Strathallan will highlight the opportunities for state and independent schools of cross sector collaboration.
This event is suitable for all school leaders and is open to both members and non-members.
Cost of attending:
Members – Free
Non-members - £50
The Centre for Teaching Excellence (CfTE) was established by Scottish Government as part of the education reform agenda. The aim of the CfTE is to enhance educational quality by supporting teachers to engage with research and evidence to improve their practice.
Hosted by the University of Glasgow, CfTE serves as a national hub for evidence-based teaching, professional development, and collaboration.
Join us at this session as we hear from Professor Aileen Kennedy, Joint Director at the Centre for Transformative Change in Schools (CenTCS), about the developments to date.
This event is suitable for all school leaders.
This event is open to both members and non-members.
Cost of attending:
Members – Free
Non-members - £50
Join us at this webinar delivered by one of the expert financial advisors at Quilter Financial Services webinar to help you to understand how to manage your personal finances and build a stable foundation for your future.
At the webinar, the financial advisers will be explaining how to:
- Build up a nest-egg tax-efficiently, for yourself or for your children or grandchildren
- Boost your pension provision, so you will be able to enjoy a comfortable retirement.
- Protect your family’s income, so they have enough money if the worst happens.
- Learn the principles of investing
- Understand how your pensions work, including the state and Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
Quilter Financial Services are one of our trusted Business Partners.
This event is suitable for all school leaders who are members of the Scottish Teachers Pension Scheme.
This event is open to both members and non-members.
Cost of attending:
Members – Free
Non-members - £50
Please note that we will be offering further webinars in collaboration with Quilter Financial Services throughout Session 25-26. More information can be found on the SLS website:
- Retirement and Pensions Telephone Flexi Surgery Oct – Dec 25
- Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme 29.1.26
- Planning for Retirement and Pensions 20.5.26
Full Details and how to book CLICK HERE
Learning from Insight
Thursday, 2nd October
4.00pm – 5.30pm
Virtual Event
Join us at this session led by Lewis Paterson, Professional Insight Advisor, Scottish Government.
Lewis will take us through the intricacies of the recently published Insight data. What can senior leaders take from the data published at this time? How can they use the data to support school improvement? How can middle leaders use the data to improve attainment and achievement for young people in their departments/faculties? How can Business Managers support school leaders to utilise the data?
This event is suitable for all school leaders.
This event is open to both members and non-members.
Cost of attending:
Members - £40
Non-members - £50
Following on from a number of extremely successful events held last session, we are delighted to be working once again in partnership with BTS Spark as we offer an opportunity for Leader as Coach previous participants to reconnect with their learning and with each other.
This workshop will be delivered by professional leadership coach and facilitator Jean Crawford. Jean has coached well over a thousand leaders across education, public and corporate sectors, and holds a particular passion to support others to optimise their personal effectiveness and fulfillment.
Cost of attending:
Member - £40
Non-member - £50
Our Business Managers Forum meetings provide colleagues with an excellent opportunity to meet with colleagues who do similar roles in schools around the country. In this space, discussions can be held openly and freely about the many associated challenges of such roles with a view to finding support and possible creative solutions.
The dates of the sessions are timed to take place prior to meetings of the Executive/Council. This will allow the Business Manager Representative on Executive/Council to gather the views of Business Manager members prior to attending those meetings, thus ensuring a strong voice for those who carry out such vital roles in our schools.
Our dates for 25-26 are:
- Monday 25th August, 3.00-4.00pm
- Monday 27th October 3.00-4.00pm
- Monday 16th February, 3.00-4.00pm
- Monday 11th May, 3.00-4.00pm
All sessions will take place online via Teams webinar. Please register for each individual session.
Cost of attending:
Members – Free
Non-members - £50
SLS encourages all Headteachers to support the release of their Business Managers to allow attendance at the events.
Following on from a number of extremely successful events held last session, we are delighted to be working once again in partnership with BTS Spark as we offer another full day, in-person, Leader as Coach workshop.
School leaders are increasingly aware of the power of coaching and how they can use coaching to build the capacity of others. This Leader as Coach workshop is designed for school leaders who would like to develop their skills and confidence as a coach, empower their team and have a bigger impact in less time. The workshop will include practical tools and frameworks for holding coaching conversations, and participants will have the opportunity to practise and receive feedback on their coaching skills.
Workshop objectives
- Explore what great coaching looks like and how to use coaching in a range of contexts
- Adopt a coaching mindset and build your presence and confidence as a coach
- Hone your listening and questioning skills to enhance the quality of your daily conversations and empower your team to succeed
- Build your flexibility as a coach to best meet the needs of each individual and situation
This workshop will be delivered by professional leadership coach and facilitator Jean Crawford. Jean has coached well over a thousand leaders across education, public and corporate sectors, and holds a particular passion to support others to optimise their personal effectiveness and fulfillment.
This event is suitable for all school leaders with any/no degree of knowledge of the practical use of coaching as a leadership approach and have not as yet attended a Leader as Coach workshop.
Please note, Middle Leaders (Principal Teachers/Faculty Heads) who have attended previous Leader as Coach workshops have found this approach to be particularly helpful when leading faculties/departments.
There will be an opportunity for previous participants to attend Leader as Coach Reconnect future events to consolidate and build on coaching practices.
Places on this workshop are limited and early booking is advised.
Cost of attending:
Member - £120
Non-member - £150
Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Register here:
Professional Learning – School Leaders Scotland (sls-scotland.org.uk)
Our Business Managers Forum meetings provide colleagues with an excellent opportunity to meet with colleagues who do similar roles in schools around the country. In this space, discussions can be held openly and freely about the many associated challenges of such roles with a view to finding support and possible creative solutions.
The dates of the sessions are timed to take place prior to meetings of the Executive/Council. This will allow the Business Manager Representative on Executive/Council to gather the views of Business Manager members prior to attending those meetings, thus ensuring a strong voice for those who carry out such vital roles in our schools.
Our dates for 25-26 are:
- Monday 25th August, 3.00-4.00pm
- Monday 27th October 3.00-4.00pm
- Monday 16th February, 3.00-4.00pm
- Monday 11th May, 3.00-4.00pm
All sessions will take place online via Teams webinar. Please register for each individual session.
Cost of attending:
Members – Free
Non-members - £50
SLS encourages all Headteachers to support the release of their Business Managers to allow attendance at the events.
Our Business Managers Forum meetings provide colleagues with an excellent opportunity to meet with colleagues who do similar roles in schools around the country. In this space, discussions can be held openly and freely about the many associated challenges of such roles with a view to finding support and possible creative solutions.
The dates of the sessions are timed to take place prior to meetings of the Executive/Council. This will allow the Business Manager Representative on Executive/Council to gather the views of Business Manager members prior to attending those meetings, thus ensuring a strong voice for those who carry out such vital roles in our schools.
Our dates for 25-26 are:
- Monday 25th August, 3.00-4.00pm
- Monday 27th October 3.00-4.00pm
- Monday 16th February, 3.00-4.00pm
- Monday 11th May, 3.00-4.00pm
All sessions will take place online via Teams webinar. Please register for each individual session.
Cost of attending:
Members – Free
Non-members - £50
SLS encourages all Headteachers to support the release of their Business Managers to allow attendance at the events.