Rethinking Educational Leadership Challenging the Conventions

Abstract

‘Leadership’ has become a key concept in the organization, management and administration of educational organizations and systems, and this develop ment is reflected in both academic and educational policy statements through out the English-speaking world. In England, for example, all school inspections must report on the quality of leadership found, heads of subject departments are referred to as ‘middle leaders’, and the government has created the National College for School Leadership for the training of head teachers and others in activities not directly related to curriculum and teaching. At the time of writing (late 2002) proposals are being considered for a leader ship college for the post-compulsory sector. Many similar developments exist elsewhere.