Ebook: School Leadership - International Perspectives

Research into school effectiveness in recent decades has corroborated the theory that the school leader has a pivotal role to play in making their school a successful institution and especially in its improvement. In fact, the school leader is most often cited as the key factor in a school’s development.

Reflecting the importance it is given in today’s education landscape, this book explores the latest trends in school leadership from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Each chapter provides insight into an aspect of current research and analyzes its consequences for school leadership, with many offering internationally comparative assessments. Detailed case studies come from as far afield as Hong Kong and Canada. Among other things, chapter authors look at the growing importance placed on activities to "professionalize" school leaders, such as training and development programs and selection procedures. They also examine the professional standing and the level of decision-making authority that school leaders have in various countries.

In view of the ever-increasing burden of responsibility placed on higher management to safeguard and enhance the quality of education they provide, school leadership is now a core concern of policy makers. In addition, most countries are undertaking fundamental education reforms that will have a major influence on the nature of school leadership. Offering the most up-to-date research on this central issue, this book will both inform and shape the debate.

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The pivotal role of the school leader as a factor in effective schools has been corroborated by findings of school effectiveness research over the last decades. School improvement researchers have also demonstrated increasing recognition of the importance of school leaders for all stages of the school improvement process. The school leader is most often cited as the key figure in the individual school's development, either blocking or promoting change, acting as the internal change agent, overseeing the processes of growth and renewal. In view of these ever-increasing responsibilities of school leaders for ensuring and enhancing the quality of schools, school leadership has recently become one of the central concerns of educational policy makers. Moreover, in most countries, the tasks and structures of schools and of the education system are changing. These change processes strongly influence the leadership of schools. The chapters of the book vividly reflect the ideas and experiences regarding current issues and trends in school leadership and leadership development from both perspectives, research and practice. They comprise insights from recent research findings and their consequences for the leadership of schools. They look at the growing importance placed on activities to "professionalize" school leaders, among them: training and development programs and selection procedures. They also examine the professional standing and the level of decision-making authority that school leaders in various countries have.