Key Action 2: Co-operation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices

As the UNESCO Document Leading Better Learning: School leadership and quality in the Education 2030 agenda (2016) states, “effective school leadership is essential to improve the efficiency, equity and quality of education, particularly when schools are granted autonomy and principals receive appropriate support to make important decisions (Pont et al., 2008). It also demonstrates that successful school leaders can improve teaching and learning indirectly and most powerfully through their support and influence on staff motivation, commitment and working conditions (Leithwood et al., 2008)” (2016: p. 13). Besides, it should be noted that intercultural leadership and inclusive leadership are top priorities for the E.U.

During the last two years, our schools have suffered a dramatic change as both teachers and pupils have had to adapt on short notice to a new panorama that in many aspects will likely prove to be irrevocable. Beside some positive changes such as the increasing use of new methodologies and technologies, the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has also emphasized the differences existing between our students, as the dependence on new technologies has made schools’ struggle to never leave any pupils behind even harder. The role of head teachers must be an ever-changing one, adjusting to the new teaching and learning scenario, being able to face the new challenges that the pandemic has posed, and ensuring inclusion and equity for all students, as well as the quality of education in their schools.

Under such premises, the Greek teachers association Educom+, the European School Heads Association (ESHA) and the Asociación de Directores y Directoras de Instituto de Andalucía (ADIÁN), designed and applied for a small scale partnership that was approved by the Spanish National Agency. During 2022, the three associations will carry out the Erasmus Plus project 2021-1-ES01-KA210-SCH-000034295 “Towards an Inclusive, Quality Education: Challenges and Opportunities of School Leadership” (or COSL, for short), that will bring together school leaders from different European countries in a shared effort to reflect on our profession and to achieve the aim of promoting equitable, inclusive quality education from the school head position.