Collegial Support for Resilience and Growth in Education

We applied for this project in response to the urgent need for schools to adapt to rapid, constant, and disruptive change. Traditional hierarchical leadership models are no longer effective, and schools must develop a more collaborative culture where staff support one another through peer-based professional development. Our goal was to help schools transition toward a more supportive and responsive environment by introducing and embedding internal collegial support forms such as coaching, mentoring, supervision, and counselling. The needs addressed include the lack of experience and understanding of these methods in schools, the traditionally individualistic school culture, and the resistance to adopting collegial practices. Building on findings from a previous Erasmus+ “Code”project, we aimed to provide school leaders and staff with tools and knowledge to enhance collegiality, promote continuous collaborative learning, and improve school development through everyday, sustainable support practices.

1) to identify the needs of educational leaders in their effort to enhance the culture of collegial support in schools, in order to create a handbook on how to support different forms of collegial support; 2) to enhance the understanding of various support forms and their impact on staff & school development, and to gain practical experience of using the diverse techniques and methods through a cpd course; 3) to share the best practice among consortium partners and deepen their knowledge.

1) Development of an Online Handbook Handbook development process involved an in-depth review of existing literature, development and implementation of a needs analysis, data collection and interpretation, followed by content development. The Handbook was then translated into all partner languages to ensure accessibility and wider impact. 2) Design and Piloting of a Hybrid CPD Course A hybrid, modular CPD course with integrated digital components was designed and piloted, aimed at strengthening educational leadership in fostering a collegial and growth-oriented school culture. The work included the creation of an e-learning platform, development of three course modules, preparation of teaching and learning materials, peer review, translation into partner languages, piloting with target groups, and an external evaluation to ensure quality and relevance. 3) International Learning Visits Learning visits were conducted in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, and Georgia. 4) Dissemination Activities Key dissemination efforts included the launch of a project website and Facebook page, organization of multiplier events and a final international conference to present project outcomes and promote broader uptake of the results.

1) A practical Handbook designed to guide the implementation of collegial support in education, fostering growth and resilience. 2) A hybrid, modular CPD course with accompanying digital materials, developed for use by target audiences in partner countries and beyond. 3) Enhanced awareness and a deeper understanding of the benefits of collegial support and its role in shaping a collaborative educational culture. 4) Strengthened capacity of partner organisations and their staff to implement and sustain collegial support practices. 5) Enriched experience and expanded local and international professional networks through active collaboration and exchange.