1. The Flemish Education Council A Counselor and Partner in Flemish Education Improved policy making through consultation Mia Douterlungne general administrator

2. Mission statement The Flemish Education Council is the strategic advisory body for the policy domain of Education and Training. All groups in society that are involved, have representatives in the Vlor. Together they debate in order to further improve the quality, reasonableness and fairness of education and training in Flanders.

3. Structure + commissions and working groups (= ± 1,100 persons) HIGHER EDUCATION COUNCIL PRIMARY EDUCATION COUNCIL SECONDARY EDUCATION COUNCIL COUNCIL FOR LIFELONG LEARNING GENERAL COUNCIL

4. Composition ORGANISERS OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRES PARENTS VLOR- SECRETARIAT EDUCATIONAL ADVISORY SERVICES PUPILS OR STUDENTS UNIONS EDUCATIONAL STAFF EXPERTS IN EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE SOCIAL PARTNERS ELECTED SCHOOL HEADS

5. Activities and Services - Advice Advice on request Advice on own initiative - Consultation Educational and social partners Commissions and working groups Implementation of new initiatives - Study Inquiries Organisation of seminars

6. School leadership in Vlor School leadership in primary education: - Advice on own initiative (2004) - Follow up of previous work (1995-1996) Inquiry on capacity building (2004-2005): - Chapter on school leadership

7. School leadership in primary education - Evolution towards professional learning communities - New profile for school leader - Integral leadership: Management in all its aspects: vision development, strategic policy, quality management, human resources, internal and external communication,…

8. - Coach of professional learning community: Monitor and mentor professional development of staff Acknowledge strenghts, stimulate cooperation and consultation, support innovation, stimulate reflection and self- evaluation,… - Participative leadership = must - Professional development = crucial

9. - Advice: Scope for policymaking: * Diminish restrictive legislation * Give sufficient time to implement innovations * Provide teachers with time for consultation and cooperation * Provide a budget for middle-management and administrative support Attractiveness of school leadership: * Better terms of employment * Provide more budget and better structures for professional development * Professionalisation of school boards

10. Role of the school leader in capacity building - Stress on participative leadership - School leader as architect of the team - Formulate, communicate and translate a clear pedagogical vision - Innovation projects are important - Facilitator of individual and collective learning - Vision closely related to transformational leadership

11. Future prospects - Capacity building remains a central issue in all discussions on educational developments - Tune professional development of school leaders to evolutions of competency-based education