How Can Help Schools Implement the Professional Standards

Background: The XLence Leadership Programme

The XLence Standards Review Framework and the associated Professional Learning Tool are designed to help staff evaluate, record and develop their practice against the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership in Wales.

From September 2019 our seven ambassador schools started a year-long programme, using the framework and the system, designed to enhance leadership and teaching. The aim of the programme is to:

• broaden knowledge and understanding of the Professional Standards;
• enhance leaders’ skills and competencies against elements within the Standards;
• build and support research-based learning within and across schools;
• contribute to school improvement and the schools’ development as learning organisations.

All schools which were invited to be ambassadors attended an initial meeting in May 2019, outlining the proposed Leadership Programme, and this was followed by a detailed meeting in September with schools agreeing the final programme, including specific actions and timelines.

After this, the schools embarked on the programme, which entailed using the framework and online system. Exact methodology for implementation was left to the schools, and they took differing approaches according to context.