Graham Thomson
Graham is Director of the Scottish Centre for Studies in School Administration (SCSSA). SCSSA provides a national and international forum for the professional development of leadership and management in Scottish schools. Each year SCSSA delivers a programme of courses of relevance to school leaders and aspiring leaders.
A key feature of SCSSA courses is the involvement as tutors and presenters of a wide range of successful practitioners from schools throughout the country. This provides participants with plenty of opportunities to gain insights into innovative and useful practices from a variety of different contexts.
In addition, all SCSSA programmes provide participants with rich opportunities to meet, discuss and network with colleagues from every part of Scotland. This networking is enhanced by the participation at some courses from educational leaders from abroad.
SCSSA is an independent national organisation offering professional development opportunities relevant to the practical needs of leaders and those aspiring to promoted posts throughout Scottish schools. This year has seen an expansion of its work and it now delivers a range of tailored leadership programmes delivered direct to local authorities and schools as well as providing an educational consultancy service.
Graham is both a former local authority head of service and a former secondary head teacher. While seconded to the Teachers' Agreement Communications Team [TACT] Graham's work took him into schools and education departments up and down the country and he was responsible for a number of papers including 'School Leadership and Collegiality' [April 2004]. This paper explored the process and benefits of more collegiate leadership approaches to school leadership.