Head Teachers’ Leadership Academy
Head Teachers connect to their values, connect to their team, connect to their school. Funded by The Scottish Government and The Hunter Foundation and accredited to the Excellence in Headship Programme, our Head Teacher Leadership Academy is open to all head and deputy head teachers in Scotland.
What happens on a leadership academy?
Senior teachers reconnect to their power and their desire to drive change. They open up, reconnect to their values and build a powerful network to make a lasting difference to education in Scotland.
Here’s how:
- By developing leadership skills to create transformational change
- By unlocking values and creating action
- By building a self-sustaining community with powerful bonds and real momentum
Stepping Stones (Initial Teacher Training)
We’re proud to extend our work to student teachers, thanks to funding by the Scottish Government and The Hunter Foundation, in partnership with the University of Strathclyde.
Student teachers step into their values, share their voices and start their careers with a commitment to change. They build a powerful peer network that will sustain their professional practice for life. And they get ready to change the lives of Scotland’s young people.
Here’s how:
- By building confidence and unlocking values
- By creating resilience
- By building a self-sustaining community to nurture, support and inspire in the years to come
Book your place on our next Head Teachers’ Leadership Academy



Columba 1400 has been a career changing experience for me. I have been re-inspired to love again the job I was losing my way with.”
HEAD TEACHER
“My Columba 1400 HTLA was quite unbelievable. I could not have expected to have developed my thinking, understanding and refocus my values in such a short time.”
HEAD TEACHER
Phase One
A preparatory dayA preparatory day
Delivered online this provides a preparation for the residential experience and discussion around values-based leadership.
Phase Two
Residential experienceResidential experience

Taking place over two to three days at our centre on Isle of Skye or Loch Lomond this is an opportunity to address crucial leadership questions.
Phase Three
A follow up dayA follow up day
A chance to regroup and share the differences the Columban experience has made.
Phase Four
Reflective essayReflective essay
A time to come together to work on a final reflective essay for GTCS accreditation.
Phase Five
Continue developing a focus on leadershipContinue developing a focus on leadership
Continuing to develop leadership potential and connect with others within the HTLA Scotland-wide alumni network.