Australian school leaders will have access to two new leadership certifications from January 2027 under a partnership between Teach Well and England’s Ambition Institute.
The programs are designed for middle and senior school leaders and focus on two areas increasingly central to whole-school leadership: leading change, behaviour and culture.
Teach Well says the certifications will be evidence-informed and designed to fit around the demands of school leadership, with participants expected to spend about one hour a week on the programs.
The first, the Certificate in Senior Leadership, is an 18-month program aimed at deputy principals, year-level and subject leaders, heads of department and other middle-to-senior leaders with whole-school responsibilities.
The second, the Certificate in Leading Behaviour & Culture, runs for 12 months and is aimed at principals, deputy principals, wellbeing and inclusion leaders and aspiring middle leaders.
Teach Well is partnering with Ambition Institute, a UK education charity that provides professional development for teachers and school leaders. Ambition Institute already offers a range of evidence-informed leadership qualifications in England, including an 18-month National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership and specialist qualifications covering areas such as behaviour and culture.
The Australian certifications are being presented as a way for school leaders to build their leadership knowledge and apply it to challenges within their own schools.
For senior leaders, the focus is on developing the knowledge and skills needed to take on greater responsibility and lead at a school-wide level. Ambition Institute describes its senior leadership program as being designed for leaders with cross-school responsibilities, including deputy principals and those aspiring to senior leadership.
The behaviour and culture certification takes a more specific approach, targeting leaders responsible for behaviour, wellbeing and inclusion.
Teach Well says the program is intended to support leaders to establish a consistent approach to behaviour and culture across a school.
The partnership comes as school leaders are increasingly being asked to manage complex, whole-school challenges alongside their day-to-day operational responsibilities.
Ambition Institute’s leadership programs similarly emphasise that school leadership involves both operational and strategic responsibilities and requires leaders to develop specialist knowledge alongside practical leadership skills.
Teach Well is now inviting Australian school leaders to register their interest in the inaugural 2027 cohorts.
Expressions of interest for the two certifications close on 21 September.