Programme Overview
The Aspiring Principals’ Programme (APP) was designed to adequately prepare individuals for the task of principalship prior to their being in post. The programme was developed against the background that, despite studies on the critical role of school leadership and student success, Jamaica continues to promote good classroom teachers to principalship without first providing them with the requisite training and scaffolding. The APP, therefore, serves as an opportunity to attract talent, identify high quality applicants and ensure a ready supply of well-trained participants.
Core Competencies and Programme Modules
The APP seeks to develop the following core leadership and management competencies to effectively lead sustained, impactful and meaningful change in their context:
- Leading teaching and learning
- Leading and managing people
- Developing the organisation
- Financial Management
Programme modules address complex organisational theories, theories of leadership and the practical nature of the principalship. Participants, therefore, pursue the following:
- Transformational Leadership
- Instructional Leadership
- Community Leadership
- Organisational Leadership
- Field Experience (12 weeks)
What Makes the APP Different?
The 70-20-10 model to leadership is at the core of the programme’s design, development and delivery.
The programme design is informed by the major findings from Ministry of Education(MoE) reports, including policy priorities, findings from the National Education Inspectorate(NEI), the Jamaica Teaching Council’s(JTC) professional standards for educators, and the nine (9) characteristics of high performing schools as proven by research;
A cohort format is utilised to augment participants’ learning as personal and individualised and which takes place in groups and collaborative settings;
Assessment, including the field experience, requires the gathering and analysis of data by participants as they synthesise, analyse and apply theoretical knowledge to real life demands and challenges of school leadership and management;
Aspirant principals are challenged to become self-directed as the programme employs experiential and reflective learning activities that incorporate prior experience.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must:
- be teacher trained;
- have a minimum of three (3) years teaching experience;
- have at least a first degree in education or a related discipline; and
- be registered with the Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC).
Programme Delivery
Each module lasts for five (5) weeks and classes are offered Saturdays OR Sundays from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
Programme Features
Case studies, video analyses, reflections, presentations, collaborative assignments and field work.
| Module | Overview |
| Transformational Leadership | This module focuses on the personal and organisational development. By developing the leadership skills and attributes of the individual and employing theses skills and attitudes to transform the school |
| Instructional Leadership | This module prepares participants with the skills to analyse, examine, and interpret data to make decisions regarding the implementation of the curricular, guiding instruction and leading student learning. |
| Community Leadership | This module prepares leaders to interact effectively with their internal and external constituents. By understanding the role of leaders and the need to have a clear understanding of the culture and history of their institution and the challenges and opportunities that those present. |
| Organisational Leadership | This module prepares leaders for the challenges of managing data in an information age driven by large volumes of data and its implications for teaching and learning and the overall success of schools. |
| Field Experience | The Field Experience module requires participants to conceptualise, implement and evaluate an intervention within a 12-week period. This is ensued by the submission of documentary evidence in the form of a portfolio and the participants’ oral defence of the intervention. |
The professional development courses include:
- Academic Writing
- Public Speaking
- Leadership and School Policy
- Interviewing Skills
- Child Friendly Schools Leadership Course
