Developing School Leaders: An International Perspective

The changing role of headteachers and principals over the last twenty years has resulted in a paradigm shift in which school leaders now need to acquire skills in financial and human resource management, organizational theory, and change management, in addition to their traditional knowledge base in curriculum and pedagogy. As with any major initiative, this has created opportunities for some and challenges for others. Opportunities have arisen to develop to create new programmes to enhance leadership and transform schools. The challenges - both practical and conceptual - relate to a series of questions that will be unpacked in this book, including: What is the appropriate balance between the academic and the practical in leadership programmes? Should provision be located in higher education institutions, in other government sponsored organizations or commissioned from the private sector? Are models of leadership studies derived from the business andindustry relevant to schools? How can research into impact inform leadership development policy and strategy? Should programmes be integrated into higher degree provision or should new and innovative forms of accreditation be developed? This book should be read by headteachers, principals and academics working and researching in the field of School Leadership.