This route provides a comprehensive overview of critical issues in education policy, leadership and improvement, through the in-depth study of theoretical perspectives and their applications to educational contexts and settings. The course combines UK and international perspectives and engages with evidence from a range of national and educational contexts. The teaching team draw on their research expertise and encourage course participants to share their experiences and reflect on the course content, relating new knowledge and insights to their own contexts.
This route focuses on critical issues in education in the context of institutional and system improvement and with reference to practice, policy and theory. The course engages students in theoretical debates around each of the key concepts of policy, leadership, and improvement, problematising these and considering a range of perspectives. The course encourages students to engage with empirical evidence from a range of national contexts around these key topics and related issues, including accountability in education, professional learning, leading for change, evidence-based practices, amongst others.
The educational aims of the route are to:
The route content is structured in interrelated modules. These modules may include:
The course is composed of two key elements:
1. Sessions in the Educational Policy, Leadership and Improvement thematic route
2. Sessions on research methods
Teaching time is split between the two elements, research methods and subject-specific content with a total of 72 hours teaching. The course is taught through a mixture of lectures, smaller group seminars and individual supervisions.
At appropriate points in the programme, students will submit work and receive feedback, normally through supervisions. Feedback may also take other forms. At the end of each term, supervisors write an online report, which can be viewed by the student via the Postgraduate Feedback and Reporting System.
The dissertation is up to 15,000 words in length and submitted in June.
The examination shall include an oral examination on the dissertation and the assessments and on the general field of knowledge within which they fall, save that the Examiners may, at their discretion, waive the requirement for an oral examination.
Students normally complete two assignments in addition to the dissertation.
Assignments
Assessment will be through a range of formats which may include coursework, written and oral examinations, posters, presentations and projects.
Applicants for this course should have achieved a Good II.i Honours Degree .
If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.
The route is aimed at a wide UK and international audience, including educational practitioners studying part-time as well as full-time students. The course is of relevance and interest to individuals with an interest in theoretical, empirical, and practical issues around policy, leadership, and improvement in education. This may include teachers and educators in a range of education settings, middle and senior education leaders, heads/principals, specialist and system leaders, governors and administrators, or graduates wishing to develop careers in one of these or related fields, or go on to doctoral study in the area of this thematic route. The course encourages all participants to reflect on their wide range of experiences. Students pursue their particular interest by undertaking an individual research project which culminates with the submission of a dissertation.
The course is open to full-time (1 year) and part-time (2 years) applicants.
This course is not open to applicants via the Faculty of Education’s practitioner professional development (PPD) routes.
University Minimum Academic Requirements
Score : Grade A & B (overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185 plus a Language Centre assessment)
Score : Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 with no element lower than 185).