Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine distinctive features that have surfaced in school leadership development programmes for more than two decades in Singapore. Design/methodology/approach: The paper draws on information gathered from existing literature and the author's involvement in the programmes. Findings: The Diploma in Educational Administration (DEA) programme and the Leaders in Education Programme (LEP), offered by the National Institute of Education of the Nanyang Technological University, primarily adopted the mentoring model and innovation model respectively. Irrespective of the models, evidence is provided to illuminate the co-creation approach as well as synergy with the schools and Ministry of Education that permeate both programmes. Practical implications: Instead of discarding the past as obsolete, it is suggested that programme developers take cognizance of local distinctive features in leadership preparatory programmes and capitalize their strengths, in their attempts to generate the next wave of seascape change. Originality/value: Provides pertinent aspects of experience over a period of more than two decades of school leadership preparation in Singapore that could be of useful reference to practitioners and researchers in the field. (Contains 1 table.)