Level 7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Leadership and Management

The Level 7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Leadership and Management is a postgraduate-level qualification designed to develop senior leaders and aspiring executives. It focuses on advanced strategic thinking, leadership capability and the ability to lead organisations through complexity, change and uncertainty. Learners apply their learning directly to real workplace challenges, ensuring meaningful impact throughout the programme.

This course is suitable for senior professionals who are already operating in, or progressing towards, strategic leadership roles. It is ideal for senior managers, heads of service, directors and aspiring executives who are responsible for areas such as strategy, people leadership, performance, governance or organisational change. It is also suitable for professionals across sectors including health and social care, public services, third sector and commercial organisations.

The programme is delivered over 12 months and includes approximately 90 Guided Learning Hours. It is designed to fit around senior leadership roles, with learning integrated into day-to-day responsibilities.

Learners must be 18 years or older. There are no formal academic entry requirements, however learners must be working in, or have access to, a suitable organisational environment where they can demonstrate strategic leadership practice.

The programme is delivered through a structured series of progressive modules that develop leadership capability from personal effectiveness through to advanced strategic and future-focused leadership practice.

• Personal Effectiveness – Develops advanced communication, critical thinking, problem solving and creative thinking skills to enhance personal leadership impact.

• Behavioural Awareness – Builds self-awareness, emotional intelligence and resilience, enabling leaders to understand behavioural impact and operate effectively under pressure.

• Critical Thinking – Strengthens enquiry based thinking and ethical research skills, supporting evidence informed analysis and organisational decision making.

• Decision Making – Explores structured problem solving and decision-making models, enabling leaders to justify complex decisions using evidence and critical reasoning.

• Modern Leadership – Examines established and contemporary leadership theories to support effective leadership practice in modern, complex organisational environments.

• Leadership Practice – Focuses on leadership identity, personal brand and influence, enabling learners to evaluate how their leadership presence impacts others.

• Sustainable Leadership – Explores ethical leadership and sustainability, examining how organisational practices affect environmental, social and governance responsibilities.

• Future Sustainability – Analyses future drivers for change, supporting leaders to develop future focused strategies that strengthen organisational resilience and continuity.

• Developmental Leadership – Examines leadership behaviours that support learning cultures, empowering leaders to create environments that promote growth and development.

• Coaching Culture – Develops coaching and mentoring capability, enabling leaders to embed coaching approaches that enhance performance and capability across teams.

• Strategic Influence – Builds advanced stakeholder management, political awareness and influencing skills required to operate effectively at senior and strategic levels.

• Future Leadership – Explores emerging leadership trends and advanced negotiation skills, preparing leaders to operate confidently in evolving, multi stakeholder environments.

Each module is designed to build practical leadership capability that can be directly applied in the workplace, ensuring learning translates into real organisational impact.

This programme develops the advanced knowledge, skills and behaviours required for senior and strategic leadership roles across a range of professional contexts.

Learners strengthen core leadership capability in areas such as critical thinking, decision-making, behavioural awareness, communication and personal effectiveness. The programme also develops strategic and future-focused leadership skills, enabling learners to operate confidently in complex and changing organisational environments.

In addition, key professional themes are embedded throughout the programme, including ethical leadership, equality, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding, sustainability, governance and digital capability. These ensure learners are fully prepared for the expectations of modern senior leadership roles.

The programme is delivered through a flexible blended learning model designed to support senior professionals in full-time leadership roles. Learning is structured over 12 months and is embedded into real workplace practice.

Delivery includes tutor-led masterclasses that introduce key leadership theories, strategic frameworks and models, supported by real-world case studies that allow learners to apply learning to complex organisational challenges.

Learners also engage in workplace-based projects aligned to organisational priorities, reflective practice to strengthen leadership identity and decision-making, independent research, and ongoing professional discussions with tutor support.

Assessment is fully applied and work-based, with no formal exams. Learners are assessed through a range of methods including written assignments, presentations, professional discussions and workplace evidence that demonstrate their leadership capability in practice.

Throughout the programme, learners build a strategic portfolio that evidences real organisational impact, critical analysis and applied decision-making, rather than theoretical or simulated scenarios.

Yes. Learners receive formal 1:1 coaching sessions throughout the programme to support leadership development, reflective practice and progression of workplace-based projects.

In addition, learners benefit from ongoing tutor support and professional discussions, helping them apply theory to practice and develop confidence in strategic decision-making and leadership behaviours.

The programme is highly applied and practice-focused. While learners engage with advanced leadership theory and academic research, the emphasis is on applying this learning directly within their own organisation.

All learning is designed to be transferred into real workplace challenges, ensuring immediate relevance and measurable leadership impact.

Learners are expected to complete independent research and strategic analysis alongside structured learning sessions.

This includes evaluating leadership theories, analysing organisational practice, and applying critical thinking to support assignment work and workplace-based projects.

On successful completion, learners achieve a nationally recognised City & Guilds / ILM Level 7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Leadership and Management. This is a postgraduate-level qualification that supports progression into senior and executive leadership roles. Learners also develop advanced strategic capability, leadership confidence and the ability to lead effectively in complex and changing environments.

This qualification supports progression into senior and executive leadership roles across a range of sectors. It also provides a strong foundation for further professional development at strategic or postgraduate level, as well as professional recognition opportunities such as Membership of City & Guilds (MCGI).