A UK credential recognised across the region
Gulf ministries and school groups routinely look for UK-regulated qualifications, and this one is on Ofqual's register with a traceable number.
Level 7 Diploma · Diploma
Level 7 Diploma in Educational Leadership & Management
Written for people who lead schools, colleges and training providers. Six units cover strategy, policy, change, pedagogy, reflective practice and research. Marked through coursework plus a portfolio, and awarded by Gatehouse Awards under Ofqual regulation.
Quick Highlights
Gatehouse Awards Ltd
Ofqual, on the RQF
120 credits, 6 mandatory units
360 hours
Coursework and Portfolio of Evidence
21
Programme at a Glance
Full qualification titleGA Level 7 Diploma in Education Leadership and Management, QAN 610/7539/5
Title noteGatehouse writes "Education Leadership", without the "-al". The listing title here follows the programme list supplied to us; both refer to the same qualification
Awarding organisationGatehouse Awards Ltd, Reg. 07298045, England and Wales, regulated by Ofqual on the RQF at Level 7
Size120 credits over six mandatory units, each 20 credits with 60 guided learning hours and 140 study hours
Total Qualification Time1,200 hours, of which 360 are guided learning and 840 independent study
EntryAge 21+ with an honours degree or Level 6 qualification in any subject. Alternatively, substantial education or management experience (no minimum years), evaluated via CV/portfolio, discussion, development evidence, references, and a written task.
Note: Duration will be based on your experience and it can be advanced bachelors too which differs from prospects to prospects
Programme Overview
About this Programme
Running an education provider is not the same as running a business, and this diploma is written on that assumption. Gatehouse aims it at aspiring and established leaders, managers and senior practitioners in education, training and learning environments who want to sharpen how they lead strategically. Every one of the six units is framed around schools, colleges and training organisations rather than borrowed from generic management.
The awarding body sets out what it wants graduates to show: advanced strategic thinking, ethical leadership, reflective judgement and organisational effectiveness. You engage critically with policy, governance, pedagogy, change, professional development and research, each underpinned by current theory and evidence-based decision making. Those six themes map almost exactly onto the six mandatory units, so the syllabus does what the aims promise.
One structural choice stands out. Reflective Practice and Professional Development is a mandatory 20-credit unit in its own right, the only qualification across the Gatehouse Level 7 set to give reflection that much weight. Assessment combines coursework with a portfolio, meaning you produce written work as well as assembling evidence from the job.
Gatehouse Awards
Why Choose
Why Choose This Programme?
01
Education-specific from end to end
Policy, governance, pedagogy and improvement are taught in an education setting. You are not translating corporate case studies into classroom reality.
02
Policy and governance taught properly
Contemporary Issues, Policy and Governance in Education is a full unit, covering the accountability framework leaders actually answer to.
03
Teaching quality treated as a leadership job
Pedagogy sits alongside strategy in Unit 4, so curriculum and classroom standards are handled as senior responsibilities rather than delegated detail.
04
Reflection carries real credit
A mandatory 20-credit unit on reflective practice and professional development, which no other Gatehouse Level 7 diploma includes.
05
Two kinds of evidence
Coursework and a portfolio together, so your grade rests on written analysis as well as on what you can demonstrate at work.
06
A stated route onwards
Gatehouse names progression to senior education roles and onto full master's level programmes in educational leadership and management.
An internationally recognised pathway awarded by Gatehouse Awards.
What You'll Learn
Learning Outcomes
Set a strategic direction for an education or training organisation and explain the reasoning
Read education policy critically and understand the governance you answer to
Lead change and improvement without losing the people you are leading
Connect pedagogy and curriculum decisions to organisational strategy
Hold yourself accountable through structured reflective practice
Plan and support professional development for the staff around you
Design and carry out research in an education leadership context
Weigh evidence before deciding, and show how the evidence shaped the decision
Programme Structure
Your Journey, Year by Year
A structured curriculum that builds from foundations through to advanced study.
Part 1 — Mandatory units
All six units are required. Each is Level 7, 20 credits, 60 guided learning hours and 140 hours of independent study.
- Strategic Leadership, Management and Organisational Direction in Education (T/652/1911)
- Contemporary Issues, Policy and Governance in Education (Y/652/1912)
- Leading and Managing Change and Improvement in Education (A/652/1913)
- Pedagogy and Strategic Leadership and Management in Education (D/652/1914)
- Reflective Practice and Professional Development (F/652/1915)
- Research Methods in Education Leadership and Management (H/652/1916)
Part 2 — Rules of combination
Achieve all six mandatory units and 120 credits. Gatehouse confirms no further rules of combination apply, so nothing is optional.
- All six units mandatory
- 120 credits in total
- No optional units
- No further rules of combination
Part 3 — Assessment and quality assurance
How the qualification is judged and verified.
- Coursework together with a Portfolio of Evidence
- Units signed off at the approved centre
- Internal quality assurance of assessor judgements
- External moderation by Gatehouse
- Centre assessment and standards scrutiny policy applies
GA
The University
Gatehouse Awards
Your Learning Partner
Why Study Through Maverick?
Students receive:
Centre teaching and tutorials
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Coursework feedback
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Portfolio sign off per unit
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Internal and external moderation
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Qualified assessors and internal quality assurers
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Appeals and enquiries process
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Why GCC Education Leaders Choose This Qualification
Suits international school leadership
Heads of department, deputy principals and quality leads in the region carry exactly the responsibilities the six units are written around.
Evidence drawn from your own school
Portfolio assessment means your improvement plans, policy work and staff development become the material you are assessed on.
Study without leaving your post
Gatehouse approves international centres, so the qualification can be completed alongside a full teaching or leadership role.
Reflection built into the design
Rapid staff turnover is a known pressure in regional schools, and the reflective practice unit puts professional development on a structured footing.
Confirm the detail before you pay
Delivery sits under an exclusivity agreement and fees are set locally. Ask which centre is approved to teach it and what the full cost covers.
Our Network
Diverse Alumni
Join professionals across leading organizations worldwide
Graduates placing at world-class organisations across aviation, energy, finance and government
Join our growing global network of industry leaders
Faculty Voice
Insights From Industry Experts
Real-world perspectives from the minds shaping global business education
Germany
Faculty Insight • 01
Prof. Alexander Schmidt
Alexander is a leader in AI and cloud integration, specializing in ethical AI strategy and financial services. He develops courses on Machine Learning, NLP, and AI ethics, driving tech business growth.
British
Faculty Insight • 02
Prof. Dr. David Mark Holliman
Dr. David Holliman, an educator with 15+ years of experience, is Chairman of Holliman Holdings, managing business operations in tourism, trading, asset management, and education
Jordan
Faculty Insight • 03
Prof. Dr. Othman Abu Khurma
Dr. Othman Abu Khurma, a passionate science educator with 18 years' experience in Jordan and the GCC, excels in designing engaging teaching materials, fostering dynamic discussions, enhancing learning for educators and students.
Switzerland
Faculty Insight • 04
Prof. Steve Alban Tineo
Prof. Steve, a global leader and entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience, delivers corporate training and academic courses on negotiation, conflict resolution, mediation, and cross-cultural communication.
slovakia
Faculty Insight • 05
Prof. Veronika Knight
Veronika Knight delivers practical, human-centered learning experiences for corporate teams across the UAE and GCC. Her approach focuses on developing soft skills and encouraging meaningful behavioural change, helping learners apply their knowledge with confidence in the workplace.
Canada
Faculty Insight • 06
Shyma Mohaisen
Shyma brings over 10 years of teaching experience and a background at Microsoft, combining academic expertise with practical industry insights to support learners’ professional growth.
India
Faculty Insight • 07
Prof. Dr. Shanmugan Joghee
Dr. Shanmugan brings over 26 years of experience in management education and research across India and the UAE, with expertise in marketing, international business, research methods, and digital transformation.
Ukrainian
Faculty Insight • 08
Prof. Yana Nikitina
Prof. Yana Nikitina is an accomplished economist, lecturer, and researcher with a PhD in Economics and a Master’s in Education Leadership. She brings extensive experience in teaching Economics, Finance, Accounting, and Business, with a strong commitment to student-centred learning, research excellence, and professional development.
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Fees & Scholarships
Fees & Scholarships
Fee structure varies by intake and study mode. Select any option to receive the full details.
Course fee set by the delivering centreRequest the full fee structure →
£206 awarding body registration, excluding VATRequest the full fee structure →
UK VAT at 20% where applicableRequest the full fee structure →
Pricing differs outside the UKRequest the full fee structure →
Request a full written breakdownRequest the full fee structure →
Admissions
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Speak to our admissions team for a personalised breakdown based on your intake and study mode.
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Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the title differ slightly from the one on the Gatehouse site?
Gatehouse calls it the GA Level 7 Diploma in Education Leadership and Management. The programme list we work from writes it as "Educational Leadership & Management". It is the same qualification, under the same number, 610/7539/5. We have kept the listing title as supplied and recorded the awarding body's wording here so you can match them without confusion.
Who is this actually for?
People already inside education who are moving up, or who are in a senior post and want the underpinning to go with it. Gatehouse names roles involving educational leadership, quality improvement, curriculum or pedagogical oversight, organisational development, governance and professional development. If you lead a department, a phase, a provision or a training function, you are in the intended audience.
How is it assessed?
Through coursework and a Portfolio of Evidence together. That is a deliberate difference from the portfolio-only route used on some other Gatehouse Level 7 diplomas. Expect to write assessed pieces as well as to collect and present evidence from your day job. Each unit is signed off at the centre and then moderated, internally first and externally by Gatehouse afterwards.
Do I need a teaching degree to apply?
You need an honours degree or a Level 6 qualification, in any subject, not specifically a teaching one. If you hold neither, the centre can admit you on substantial relevant professional experience in education, training, leadership or management. No minimum number of years is published for this diploma, so the centre forms its own judgement using your CV, a professional discussion, records of continuing development, statements from referees, and a short written exercise.
How long will it take and what will it cost?
Gatehouse publishes neither a duration in months nor a learner price. It publishes 360 guided learning hours and 1,200 total qualification hours, and a registration fee of £206 excluding VAT that centres pay the awarding body. The teaching fee and the timetable both come from the centre, and pricing varies for centres working outside the UK, so get both in writing.
Will this let me become a qualified teacher?
No. This is a leadership and management qualification, not an initial teacher training route, and it carries no teaching practice requirement. Gatehouse offers separate Education and Training qualifications at Levels 3, 4 and 5 for people entering teaching. If qualified teacher status is your aim, check the requirements of the jurisdiction you intend to work in before enrolling on anything.
Enquire
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Application & study-mode support
Flexible study
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