Educational Leadership: Learning from Finland
Trust, autonomy and shared leadership_ what Finnish principles can teach your school
Course description
The Finnish education system is known for trust in teachers, low hierarchy and strong professional
autonomy. This course for school leaders and aspiring leaders examines how Finnish principals
lead: pedagogical leadership, distributed leadership, staff development and wellbeing, and
cooperation with municipalities and parents. Through visits to two Helsinki schools, conversations
with principals and structured analysis, you compare the Finnish approach with your own context
and identify what can be adapted. The week ends with a leadership development plan for your
school. Suitable for principals, deputy heads, middle leaders and teachers preparing for leadership
roles at all school levels
Learning objective
Participants will be able to describe the key features of Finnish school leadership, analyse their
own leadership practice against principles of trust, pedagogical leadership and distributed
leadership, and develop a realistic leadership development plan for their school.
Teaching methods and assessment
Methods: expert input from former Finnish principals, two school visits with structured
observation, leadership case discussions, peer consultation, individual planning. Assessment:
leadership self-assessment, peer consultation feedback, presentation of the leadership
development plan on the final day.
Materials and learning resources
Course reader on the Finnish system, school visit observation guides, leadership self-assessment
tool, development plan template, reading list of research and policy documents.
Course package
Certificate of attendance (25 hours)
Europass Mobility document on request
Individual online follow-up call with a trainer
Course programme
The Finnish system and its leadership culture
Welcome and participant presentations. Structure and values of the Finnish education system. What principals actually do in Finland. Leadership self-assessment
School visit 1: pedagogical leadership
Visit to a comprehensive school in Helsinki: observation, conversations with the principal and teachers. Debrief: pedagogical leadership and trust.
Distributed leadership and staff development
Teacher teams, middle leadership and decision making. Staff development and wellbeing as leadership tasks. Case discussions from participants' schools.
School visit 2: leading change
Visit to a school known for innovation. How change is introduced and sustained. Peer consultation on participants' leadership challenges.
Your leadership development plan
Finalising and presenting development plans. Feedback from trainers and peers. Erasmus+ documentation, evaluation and certificates.
Course locations
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