Ethos and Leadership Programme 2024 2025
Welcome to the CSSC Ethos and Leadership Programme which has been developed by the Controlled Schools’ Support Council for Principals, Governors and Senior Leaders in controlled schools. The CSSC Ethos and Leadership Programme is based on the belief that ethos is foundational in the life of a school and fundamental to its successful development at all levels and, most importantly, to the educational experience of the pupils.
The CSSC Ethos and Leadership Programme is aligned with the Department of Education’s school improvement policy, Every School a Good School (2009) and Strategy for Teacher Professional Learning, Learning Leaders (2016).
Additionally, CSSC has taken account of the characteristics of effective practice and self-evaluation questions within the Education and Training Inspectorate’s (ETI) Inspection and Self-Evaluation Framework (ISEF) (2017) and the ongoing development of inspection by ETI as part of their Quality Improvement Strategy. The five Core Questions, Contributory Areas and Associated Indicators published in Analysis of the responses from the Education and Training Inspectorate’s consultation on the development of inspection (21 August 2023) together with ISEF, reinforce the centrality of ethos, vision, mission and values.
The CSSC Ethos and Leadership Programme through a leading ethos lens aims to contribute to aspects of personal development as well as that of the school. The programme provides incrementally progressive options which acknowledge the various stages of development for controlled schools on their ethos journey.
CSSC strives to support controlled schools throughout their ethos development journey acknowledging that school improvement and raising standards is not a short-term fix but requires a vision for the desired outcomes, strategic planning and sustained effort. Teacher Professional Learning should be identified within the School Development Plan (SDP) and linked to the school’s priorities over a three-year period. This provides a strategic mechanism to not only introduce new concepts and innovative practices, but facilitates their development, monitoring and embedding within the life of the school.
CSSC encourages you to look at the range of modules available and consider what is appropriate for your personal ethos journey and also your school. There is no cost for the programme modules for controlled schools which are facilitated within your school or with a cluster of schools.The Building Capacity Programme, which is centre-based, may require schools to provide substitute cover.
Should you require any further clarification please contact your School Support Officer who will be happy to speak to you regarding the CSSC Ethos and Leadership Programme.
For further details of the CSSC Ethos and Leadership Programme please click on the link below. This will also enable you to either book a place for a centre-based module or request a school-based module.
(Please note that your School Support Officer will contact you to confirm dates for school-based modules).
Should you require further information please contact your CSSC School Support Officer.
Andrew Brown SSO
andrew.brown@csscni.org.uk
Telephone: 07860 828 049
Jill Brown/Richard Reid
jill.brown/richard.reid@csscni.org.uk
Telephone: 07860 828 053 / 07938 485 903
Derek Harkness
derek.harkness@csscni.org.uk
Telephone: 07395 283 209
Heather McKenzie
heather.mckenzie@csscni.org.uk
Telephone: 07739 743 290
Tracey Woods
tracey.woods@csscni.org.uk
Telephone: 07860 528 004
