Education Leadership PgCert

Why choose the School of Education and English

A flexible, part-time course that can work with your other commitments

Designed for those presently working as, or interested in, becoming mid-senior managers and leaders in an educational organisation

A choice of optional units allow you to follow a programme which meets your professional interests and individual needs

About the course

This course equips you with the knowledge and skills required to analyse practice, lead change and inspire excellence. Through your studies, you have the opportunity to think critically and creatively so you can effectively navigate the evolving demands of leadership within education. The course is made up of core and optional units, providing you with the flexibility to design a programme which meets your individual needs.

Your student experience

The course covers a wide range of theoretical and practical aspects of leadership and management, drawing on multidisciplinary research.

Through activities and assessments, you develop analytical and practical skills that support you to progress successfully along a leadership or managerial career path.

The course team have extensive experience, are all professionals who understand the sector and contribute to wider knowledge through cutting-edge research.

The University of Bedfordshire’s Bedford campus is a small, thriving academic community where staff get to know you well and provide individualised support.

Educational Leadership In Context

Recognising the continually changing nature of contemporary educational leadership and theory, this unit explores key literature and research to support you to reflect upon key aspects of leadership and management within a range of educational contexts:

Critically explore how national policies inform individual school policies and practice
Evaluate leadership and management styles in an educational setting
Analyse the mission, vision and strategic planning of educational organisations

Leading Change In Education

This unit will help you to acquire the knowledge and skills required to lead developments within a specific context, with a focus on improved outcomes. The unit will cover different aspects of change, including changing practice in education settings, and exploring how to manage and develop positive staff attitudes in order to secure positive outcomes in the short, medium, and long term.
The application of this focus might be in a range of educational contexts; as a teacher in your classroom, as a leader in a school or college, as a leader of Children’s Services or a Leader involved with direct provision of services to children and young people. Whatever role you apply this unit to, the learning outcomes will enable you to apply new skills and understanding within your organisation with a view to enhancing outcomes of others. The unit will enable you to:

Critically analyse approaches and theories to leading learning and development within your organisational context.
Critically analyse the suitability of a range of models and strategies for the promotion of change within your organisation,
Create a culture conducive to individual and collaborative professional development
Develop and support an ethos of continual review, innovation and change within your team/organisation

Each unit in this course has its own assessment. Wherever possible the specific focus of assignments is negotiated individually in order to ensure that the assignment meets the personal and professional needs of the student.

The course provides you with a carefully planned and coherent sequence of learning opportunities that facilitate your development through formative and summative assessments. At this level the expectations in terms of the quality of work produced are high and you will need to take active control of your learning.

Careers

For existing professionals this Master’s qualification will enhance your chances for promotion to senior positions in the field of education and in particular senior management roles within schools. It acts as an important indicator of your ability and understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a senior leader in educational settings. It is designed to help you critique key issues in education as well as to identify and justify recommendations for further action.

As a Master’s graduate therefore you will have the confidence knowledge and critical skills to prepare and present a strong application to senior posts in the field of education. It is also an ideal base from which to progress to study at Doctoral level.

Entry Requirements

2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area

Fees for this course

UK

The standard fee for a Postgraduate Certificate for the Academic Year 2026/27 is £3,350.

Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk

Scholarship Available

The University of Bedfordshire is proud of its alumni and is delighted to offer a tuition fee discount for those who choose to continue or return to the University for on campus Postgraduate level studies.

We offer a 20% discount on full and part-time Masters courses to those who were successful in completing an Honours Degree with the University of Bedfordshire, DMU’s Bedford campus or the University of Luton.