Future School: evidence-driven leadership for collaborative school culture
Whole-school approach: to support whole-school innovation and improvement of teaching practices by enhancing the teaching and learning culture through school-university co-creation of new methodologies and implementation of evidence-driven innovation.
The aim of the program is to help schools create a learning and teaching environment that supports the student. This is done by supporting the abilities of the schools in implementing evidence-based and collaborative leadership practices. Schools that participate in Future School program, can move from determining their needs to their sustainable implementation in everyday school life.
The concept of school improvement
Future School addresses the importance of the change in the school culture, which is achieved through following the qualities of the change process - dialogue, meaningfulness, ownership. These qualities represent in as the guiding principles to the three cornerstones of the programme:
- distributed leadership for teacher collaborative learning throughout the program, school teams learn how to consciously manage change and to create favourable environment for that.
- evidence-driven decision-making – schools monitor and analyse the change process (teachers as researchers).
- co-creation for improving students' learning – schools analyse students´ learning processes and based on the areas that need improvement, they plan and try different improvement activities and new approaches that are developed with university specialists. The impact of these activities are analysed. Collaboration happens on three levels – inside the school, between university and school, and between different schools.
Cornerstones frame the joint improvement process for the schools and university.
Future School Team and Mentors
Scool improvement team
- Eve Eisenschmidt, Professor of Educational Leadership
- Berit Silvia Kondratjev, Junior Research Fellow
- Joosep Norma, Junior Research Fellow
- Piret Oppi, Junior Research Fellow
- Daniel Reinaru, Educational Leadership Development Specialist
- Reet Sillavee, School Improvement Consultant
- Riina Stahl, Cooperation Manager in Educational Leadership
- Kaisa Tamkivi, School Imrpovement Consultant
- Maarja Urb, School Imrpovement Consultant
- Kätlin Vanari, Junior Research Fellow
School improvement mentors
- Hiie Asser, Principal of Tartu Annelinna Gymnasium
- Sirje Kautsaar, Principal of Rae Gymnasium
- Anu Köidam, Principal of Ilmatsalu Basic School
- Sigrid Melts, Deputy Director of Tallinn European School
- Kristi Mumm, Head of Education at Forseliuse School
- Margo Sootla, Principal of Paide Gymnasium
- Ene Tannberg, Principal of Miina Härma Gymnasium
- Tiina Tiit, Head of Education at Pelgulinna Gymnasium
Published articles
- Eisenschmidt, E., Ahtiainen, R., Kondratjev, B. S., Sillavee, R. (2021). A study of Finnish and Estonian principals’ perceptions of strategies that foster teacher involvement in school development. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 1−24.
- Eisenschmidt, E., Vanari, K., Tammets, K. (2020). Tulevikukool: Eesti kooliuuenduse praktikast. M. Heidmets (Toim.). Haridusmõte (508−536). Tallinn: Tallinna Ülikooli Kirjastus. (Education).
- Nakus, D. 2019. Õpetajate õpioskuste alaste teadmiste kujunemine õpiringi abil ühe kooli näitel [Master thesis]. Tallinn: Tallinn University.
- Oppi, P. (2023). Teacher leadership – supporting teachers’ collaborative learning in Estonian schools. [Doctoral Thesis].
- Oppi, P.; Eisenschmidt, E. (2022). Developing a professional learning community through teacher leadership: a case in one Estonian school. Teaching and Teacher Education, 1. DOI: 10.1016/j.tatelp.2022.100011.
- Oppi, P.; Eisenschmidt, E.; Jõgi, A-L. (2022). Teacher’s readiness for leadership – a strategy for school development. School Leadership and Management.
- Oppi, P.; Eisenschmidt, E.; Stingu, M. (2020). Seeking sustainable ways for school development: teachers’ and principals’ views regarding teacher leadership. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 1−23. DOI: 10.1080/13603124.2020.1849809.
- Poom-Valickis, K., Eisenschmidt, E., Leppiman, A. (2021). Creating and Developing a Collaborative and Learning-Centred School Culture: Views of Estonian School Leaders. Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal, 1−21.
- Rääk, K.; Eisenschmidt, E.; Tammets, K. (2021). Exploring the Perceptions of Estonian Teachers’ Data Use in School Development. Education Sciences, 11 (6), 26.05.2021. DOI: 10.3390/educsci11060262
- Tirri, K., Eisenschmidt, E., Poom- Valickic, K., Kuusisto, E. (2021). Current Challenges in School Leadership in Estonia and Finland: A Multiple-Case Study among Exemplary Principals. Education Research International, 1-11.
- Vanari K. & Eisenschmidt E. (2022) Missions, Visions, and Goals for School Improvement - A Typology of Estonian Schools, Leadership and Policy in Schools, DOI: 10.1080/15700763.2022.2160360
- Vanari, K. (2020). Ülikooli ja kooli partnerlus tõenduspõhiseks kooliarenduseks süsteemiteoreetilisest vaatenurgast [Thesis, Tartu Ülikool]. https://dspace.ut.ee/handle/10062/67106
Vanari, K., Tammets, K., Eisenschmidt, E. (2020). School-university partnership for evidence-driven school development. in Tirri K., Toom A. (Eds.). Pedagogy and Pedagogical Challenges (1−10). Helsinki: IntechOpen.
Future Schools and educational institutions that have completed a development program based on the Future School methodology
Future Schools |
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|
I |
2017/18 |
1 | Muraste School |
| 2 | Tallinn 32nd High School | ||
| 3 | Pääsküla School | ||
| 4 | Rahumäe Basic School | ||
|
II |
2018/19 |
5 | Tallinn Art Gymnasium |
| 6 | Ruila Basic School | ||
| 7 | Pelgulinna Gymnasium | ||
| 8 | Peetri Kindergarten-Basic School | ||
| 9 | Väätsa Basic School | ||
|
III |
2019/20 |
10 | Open School |
| 11 | Kadriorg German Gymnasium | ||
| 12 | Raasiku Basic School | ||
| 13 | Tartu Private School | ||
| 14 | Tartu Forseliuse School | ||
| 15 | Viimsi Gymnasium | ||
|
IV |
2020/21 |
16 | Tallinn School of Service |
| 17 | Kallavere High School | ||
| 18 | Ilmatsalu Basic School | ||
| 19 | Luua Forestry School | ||
| 20 | Rapla Central School | ||
|
V |
2021/22 |
21 | Võru Kreutzwaldi School |
| 22 | Viljandi Jakobson School | ||
| 23 | Kalamaja Basic School | ||
| 24 | Valga Basic School | ||
| 25 | Tallinn Arte Gymnasium | ||
|
VI |
2022/23 |
26 | Oskar Luts Palamuse Gymnasium |
| 27 | Tartu Veeriku School | ||
| 28 | Tallinn Mahtra Basic School | ||
| 29 | Tallinn Mustamäe Gymnasium, Primary School Level | ||
|
VII |
2023/24 |
30 | Ehte Humanities Gymnasium |
| 31 | Lilleküla Gymnasium | ||
| 32 | Türi Basic School | ||
| 33 | Hiiu School | ||
| 34 | Kadrina High School | ||
The schools participating in the 3rd-year School Development Program |
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|
I |
2022/24 |
35 | Paistu School |
| 36 | Holstre School | ||
| 37 | Kärdla Basic School | ||
| 38 | Käru Basic School | ||
| 39 | Vara Basic School | ||
|
II |
2023/25 |
40 | Kuristiku Gymnasium |
| 41 | Merivälja Basic School | ||
| 42 | Tallinn Mahtra Basic School, II level | ||
| 43 | Tallinn United Gymnasium | ||
| 44 | Viimsi School | ||
The Future School Program for Schools Transitioning to Estonian-language Education |
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|
I |
2023/24 |
45 | Narva Gymnasium |
| 46 | Maardu Gymnasium | ||
| 47 | Tartu Annelinn School | ||
Evidence-Driven Leadership for Mental Health Supportive School Culture |
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|
I |
2021/22 |
48 | Käina School |
| 49 | Lihula Gymnasium | ||
| 50 | Tallinn German Gymnasium | ||
| 51 | Türi Basic School | ||
| 52 | Võnnu High School | ||
Entrepreneurial School Development Programme: Evidence-Driven Leadership for Enterpreneurial School Culture |
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|
I |
2021 |
53 | Iisaku Gymnasium |
| 54 | Illuka School | ||
| 55 | Jõhvi Basic School | ||
| 56 | Kiviõli 1st High School | ||
| 57 | Kohtla-Järve Gymnasium | ||
| 58 | Kohtla-Järve Järve School | ||
| 59 | Maleva Basic School in Kohtla-Järve | ||
Leading Learning in Hobby Schools |
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|
I |
2019 |
60 | Tallinn Nõmme Hobby School |
| 61 | Tallinn Music School | ||
| 62 | Tallinn Art School | ||
| 63 | Tallinn Kopli Youth Center | ||
| 64 | Tallinn Kanutiaia Hobby School | ||
| 65 | Tallinn Hobby Center Kullo | ||
| 66 | Tallinn Tondiraba Hobby School | ||
| 67 | Nõmme Music School | ||
| 68 | Mustamäe Children's Creative House | ||
| 69 | Lasnamäe Music School | ||
Development of Educational Innovations based on the Principles of Change Management |
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|
I |
2023 |
70 | Ehte Humanities Gymnasium |
| 71 | Kindergarten Ojake | ||
| 72 | Kindergarten Paekaare | ||
| 73 | Tallinn's Liikuri Kindergarten | ||
| 74 | Tallinn Järveotsa Gymnasium | ||
| 75 | Tallinn Art Gymnasium | ||
| 76 | Tallinn Kindergarten Pääsusilm | ||
| 77 | Tallinn Lepatriinu Kindergarten | ||
| 78 | Tallinn Liikuri Kindergarten | ||
| 79 | Tallinn Meelespea Kindergarten | ||
| 80 | Tallinn Mustakivi Kindergarten | ||
| 81 | Tallinn Paekaare Kindergarten | ||
| 82 | Tallinn Teacher's House | ||
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Evidence-Based Management Preschool Management |
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|
I |
2020/21 |
83 | Kiikhobu Kindergarten |
| 84 | Lepatriinu Kindergarten | ||
| 85 | Männiku Kindergarten | ||
| 86 | Männikäbi Kindergarten | ||
| 87 | Tallinn Bellflower Kindergarten | ||
| 88 | Tallinn Cat's Family Kindergarten | ||
| 89 | Tallinn Magdaleena Kindergarten | ||
| 90 | Tuule Kindergarten | ||
|
II |
2021/22 |
91 | Private Kindergarten Tiki-Triki |
| 92 | Kiiu Kiigepõnni Kindergarten | ||
| 93 | Kindergarten Naeratus | ||
| 94 | Children's Club Midrimaailm | ||
| 95 | Daycare Center Päkapikk | ||
| 96 | Salme Kindergarten-Primary School | ||
| 97 | Tallinn Spring Kindergarten | ||
| 98 | Tallinn Birch Kindergarten | ||
| 99 | Tallinn Cuckoo Kindergarten | ||
| 100 | Tallinn Naksitrallid Kindergarten | ||
| 101 | Tallinn Nõmmekannike Kindergarten | ||
| 102 | Tallinn Bluebird Kindergarten | ||
| 103 | Tallinn Loitsu Kindergarten | ||
| 104 | Tallinn Mürakaru Kindergarten | ||
|
III |
2022/23 |
105 | Kehtna Kindergarten Siller |
| 106 | Luunja Kindergarten Midrimaa | ||
| 107 | Rapla Kindergarten Kelluke | ||
| 108 | Saku Kindergarten Terake | ||
addressNarva str 25, 10120 Tallinn
E-mailfutureschool@tlu.ee