MA Inclusive Educational Leadership

This programme consists of work at Level 7 that will enable those teachers holding a NASENCO qualification (with Level 7 credits) to progress to a MA (Masters) qualification. The programme aims to enable teachers to develop their leadership competency through critical evaluation of research and scholarship and to integrate this with their own practice. Students will be able to analyse, engage in and reflect on these educational issues and on the implications for their own educational setting. All students will complete one module about inclusion best practice before carrying out a research project for the dissertation in Module 2.

The course is accredited by The University of Buckingham and all students are members of the University from the start of the course. Module 1 is delivered by the University, with Leadership Experts and SEND specialists, in partnership with industry specialists, Daniel Sobel of Inclusion Expert, a nationally renowned provider and the Sensible SENCO, Abigail Hawkins. These experts have supported many thousands of schools and SENCOs and this is their idea to help SENCOs advance either within the world of SEND or to utilise what they have gained to move on to other fields. They will both be lecturing on the course and so you will have the opportunity to learn from two of the most experienced advanced Inclusion trainers in the world. Their work with you will focus on issues such as:

• Managing and Leading all different types of stakeholders
• Helping schools to deal with complex and entrenched cases
• Helping schools to deal with challenging parents
• Training all staff to be fully inclusive
• Cultural and organisational inclusive leadership

Module 2, the dissertation, is delivered by The University of Buckingham.

On successful completion of your course, you will also be eligible to apply to become a Senior Fellow of the International Forum of Inclusion Practitioners. This is a recognition of your advanced knowledge and capabilities and dedication to building a more inclusive world. You will benefit from this by:

• Being invited to participate in international inclusion events all over the world by lecturing, publishing, facilitating groups and the like
• You will be invited to attend events such as the Global Inclusive Schools Summit at UNESCO HQ in Paris
• You will be invited to help and train practitioners across the developing world
• You will be invited to participate in higher level events aimed at providing guidance and advice for governments

The course is 100% online. At every stage students have their own supervisor.

To be eligible for this programme, applicants must:

• have the national NASENCO qualification.
• be employed in a school.

Module 1: Inclusive Educational Leadership (60 credits)

This Module is designed to build upon the material covered as part of the NASENCO qualification and in particular to develop further the role as a key educational leader. This would be covered in two ways through the delivery of two units. Each unit would be assessed separately.

1. Developing Leadership expertise

This unit is about the role of SENCO as an educational leader. There would be practical input relating to key aspects such as resource planning and financial management, coping with conflict, working with parents, training and monitoring staff development. There would also be work on implementing change within your setting.

2. Improving the Practice of the SEND Department

This would look at ways of increasing knowledge of needs and appropriate teaching strategies that can be used throughout the department. It would also look at ways in which inclusion can be increased across the educational setting and the contribution that can be made to improving outcomes. These aspects would also be linked to practical examples of implementing change.

Module 2: Education Research Dissertation (60 credits)

All Masters students will be able to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of a particular area of interest in the context of educational research. Through completing this module students gain knowledge of the research process itself and how to evaluate other research projects in a specific field. Once this has been undertaken then students devise and carry out their own small-scale research project with guidance from the university. Students engage with research methodology and through this process develop their own critical skills as reflective practitioners. This module introduces students to some of the complexities and challenges of engaging in educational research. This module will be assessed by the completion of a dissertation 12,000 to 15,000 words.

The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.

Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.

Applicants must also pay a non-refundable £300 registration fee.

Before we can accept you, you will need to supply:

• a copy of your passport photo page,
• a copy of your degree certificate,
• a head and shoulder style photo for your University identity card.

Apply by 12 July 2024.

Please use the ‘Apply Now’ button at the bottom of this page; or contact The Faculty of Education on +44 (0)1280 820222 or email: education@buckingham.ac.uk.