Understand your school culture
Read culture at three levels, recognise the four culture types and see how leaders shape culture through what they model, notice and reward.
Online course · Leadership · 15-hour certificate of completion
Building a High-Performing School Culture
The culture of your school shapes everything. Learn to lead it. A practical, self-paced course for principals, senior leaders and experienced middle leaders in international schools who want to understand, diagnose and strengthen the culture of their school.
Secure checkout · 14-day refund · Start straight away · Certificate of completion
What you will gain
By the end of the course
Diagnose it with evidence
Use surveys, conversations and observation together, and read the results carefully, without overclaiming.
Strengthen it with six levers
Apply six practical levers, finish with a 90-day culture plan and earn a certificate for 15 hours of professional development.
Who it is for
Is this course for you?
Yes, if you are:
- A principal, head of school or deputy who wants a stronger, more consistent staff culture
- A senior or middle leader responsible for staff, standards or school improvement
- Preparing for accreditation and want honest evidence about how your school culture works
In five modules you will learn what school culture is, how leadership shapes it, how culture links to performance and how to diagnose it fairly. You will then work through six levers for a stronger culture: consistent, visible leadership; structured two-way communication; fair recognition; consistent policies; fair access to professional development; and collaboration across departments. Every lesson ends with a practical task, and you finish with a 90-day culture plan and a certificate for 15 hours of professional development.
What you get
- 5 chapters of short lessons, at your own pace
- A certificate for 15 hours of professional development when you finish
- A Participant Workbook (your Leadership Journal) and a guide to the research behind each module, both to download
- Free access to the Leaders’ Circle, our online community for school leaders
- Watch on any device, whenever suits you
$75
Enrol nowSecure checkout · 14-day refund · Start straight away · Certificate of completion
Curriculum
What you will learn
5 chapters · 23 lessons and activities
Chapter 1: Understanding School Culture
- Welcome and How This Course Works
- What School Culture Is, and Why It Matters Free preview
- The Three Levels of Culture: What You See, What You Say and What You Assume
- Four Types of Culture in Schools Free preview
Chapter 2: Leadership and Culture
- How Leaders Shape Culture
- Consistency: Closing the Gap Between What We Say and What We Do
- Trust, Fairness and Psychological Safety
- Leading Culture with a Diverse, International Staff
Chapter 3: Culture and Performance
- How Culture Links to Performance: What the Research Says
- Engagement, Motivation and Alignment
- Diagnosing Your School's Culture
- Reading Culture Evidence Carefully
Chapter 4: Six Levers for a Stronger Culture
- Lever 1: Consistent, Visible Leadership
- Lever 2: Structured, Two-Way Communication
- Lever 3: Recognition That Is Fair and Systematic
- Lever 4: Applying Policies Consistently and Fairly
- Lever 5: Fair, Transparent Access to Professional Development
- Lever 6: Collaboration Across Departments and Phases
Chapter 5: Leading and Sustaining Culture Change
- Leading Culture Change Without Breaking What Works
- Sustaining Culture: Recruitment, Induction, Rituals and Stories
- Your 90-Day Culture Plan
- Knowledge Check
- Course Summary and Certificate
Your course leader
Why I made this course
I’m Jacques Tredoux. I’ve worked in schools for more than twenty years, led schools in three countries and chaired international accreditation visiting teams. Too many good teachers are promoted into leadership and left to work it out alone. I built this course from real situations in real schools, so every lesson gives you something you can use on Monday.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How does the course work?
It is a self-paced online course on our learning platform. You can start straight away and work through the 5 chapters at a pace that suits you, on a laptop, tablet or phone.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. When you finish, you receive a certificate for 15 hours of professional development to add to your CPD record.
Can I try it before I buy?
Yes. These lessons are free to watch before you buy: What School Culture Is, and Why It Matters, Four Types of Culture in Schools. Use the Free preview button on the enrolment page.
Can I buy it for my team?
Yes. School licences give a group of staff the same course with one invoice and a certificate for each person. See our school licences page or contact us for a quote.
What if it is not right for me?
Email us within 14 days of buying and we will refund you in full.
Keep learning
Related courses
Leadership
Becoming a Middle Leader
From teacher to team leader
New and aspiring heads of department, year leaders and phase leaders.
$75
Leadership
Becoming a Senior Leader
From middle leader to deputy head
Experienced middle leaders ready to think whole-school and lead other leaders.
$75
Leadership
Leadership Principles for First-Time Managers and Principals
Lead with purpose in your first year
New principals, heads of school and managers stepping into their first senior role.
$75
Free download
The Middle Leader’s First 90 Days
A practical checklist for new heads of department, year leaders and team leaders: three phases to work through, from listening and learning in your first 30 days to leading your first improvement by day 90.
Download it straight away. We will also send you a quick email to confirm your address. Once you confirm, you get a copy of the checklist and four short follow-up tips over the next ten days. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Start this week
Self-paced, practical and certified. Enrol today for $75, or train a whole team with a school licence.
Secure checkout · 14-day refund · Start straight away · Certificate of completion