Understanding School Leadership

First Edition

Peter Earley - Institute of Education, University of London, UK
Dick Weindling - CREATE Consultants, London

Other Titles in:
Leadership | Leadership & Management

September 2004 | 224 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

`This is a book packed with ideas and insights. It is informed by evidence from school leaders and provides a valuable overview of many important theories and research findings. A strength of the book is the way it pulls together empirical research the authors have conducted over the last 20 years. Such a long term view offers a new and needed long term perspective on school leadership and enables the authors to show how trends in leaders' careers, thinking and practice have emerged and unfolded. Researchers and practitioners alike will find something of value in this book' - Professor Geoff Southworth, Director of Research, National College for School Leadership

'[A]n excellent, well-written, extensively referenced, empirically based contribution to school leadership thinking... Earley and Weindling offer valuable insights for all of us: serving headteachers/principles, advisory and distinct-wide policy makers and aspiring headteachers' - Journal of Educational Administration

By giving a detailed picture of the rapidly developing field of educational leadership, this book focuses on how to become a more effective manager and on understanding the vital importance of the manager's role in school improvement.

Written in a clear and readable style, it contains an extensive exploration of leadership models and management strategies and is based on the latest research. The text is supplemented with case studies of leadership in action.

Understanding School Leadership is indispensable reading for those who have a managerial role within their school and for students of educational management.

Introduction

PART ONE: THE CHANGING ROLE AND NATURE OF HEADSHIP

A Changing Discourse

From Management to Leadership

Stages of Headship

Who Becomes a Head and How Long Do They Stay?

The Changing Appeal and Reality of Headship

Outstanding Leaders

School Leadership in Action - A Case Study

Accountability and Ethically Responsible School Leadership

Images of Leadership

PART TWO: DISTRIBUTED LEADERSHIP FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

Leadership Teams and SMTs - Three Research Projects

The Heart of the School? Middle Leaders

Governing Bodies and Leadership

Governing Bodies and School Improvement

Effective Schools and Improvement Strategies

Developing Leaders and Leadership Capacity

`This is a book packed with ideas and insights. It is informed by evidence from school leaders and provides a valuable overview of many important theories and research findings. A strength of the book is the way it pulls together empirical research the authors have conducted over the last 20 years. Such a long term view offers a new and needed long term perspective on school leadership and enables the authors to show how trends in leaders' careers, thinking and practice have emerged and unfolded. Researchers and practitioners alike will find something of value in this book' - Professor Geoff Southworth, Director of Research, National College for School Leadership