Educational Leadership And Learning

Educational leaders - whether in schools, colleges or higher education - are challenged with steering unprecedented change; educational management has never been more demanding. Within the context of a new 'learning age' and the Teacher Training Agency's National Standards, this book explores many of the key issues facing those both aspiring to and already involved in leadership and management, whether at middle or senior levels. While focusing particularly on schools and colleges, this book evaluates issues increasingly central to leadership in a variety of professional educational settings, for example, school improvement, innovation, teamwork, organizational culture, professional development, motivation and the nature of leadership. In identifying key concepts, it scrutinizes possible management strategies within a changing policy context that is increasingly focused around standards, accountability and reputation. The book utilizes research evidence to illuminate the practices, challenges and problems facing educationists and endeavours to overcome the perceived gap between practice and research to create an integrated approach to leadership and management development: one which both supports and stimulates managers' professional development aspirations.

Bringing together internationally recognised scholars this book focuses on the relationship between leadership and learning for the education community. It draws together a wealth of knowledge and research in the field across a variety of contexts, such as system leadership, professional learning communities and leading different cultures. Themes covered include: - exploring models for leadership and improvement - challenges in developing learning-focused leadership - broadening ideas of learning and knowledge work. This book will be of interest to educational leaders at all levels and in all sectors, as well as consultants, academics and those who wish to extend their knowledge in educational leadership whether engaging in further academic study or in reflective practice around the ideas presented. This book is essential for anyone taking advanced programmes in educational leadership and management.

The change in paradigm in our field is away from the great man or woman theory of leadership and the teacher in his or her own classroom to the development of learning communities which value differences and support critical reflection and encourage members to question, challenge, and debate teaching and learning issues. How to achieve such learning communities is far from clear, but we believe the areas of problem-based learning (PBL) and organizational learning (OL) offer valuable clues. The indications are that the successful educational restructuring agenda depends on teams of leaders, whole staffs and school personnel, working together (i.e., OL) linking evidence and practice in genuine collaboration (i.e., PBL). The book is unique in that it is both about and uses these two concepts.

Leadership in Education is an evocative, forward-looking text that is grounded in years of research gathered in hundreds of schools and across districts. The text calls teachers, supervisors, and school administrators to action in the classroom, demonstrating effective leadership skills that affirm mutual respect, build trust, stimulate reflection, strengthen partnerships, and use inquiry to direct action. Building multi-faceted and nuanced links between educational leadership, school improvement, teaching effectiveness, and student learning, this succinct and compelling guide offers highly effective strategies for provoking meaningful growth in the classroom. The authors guide the reader through the process of using generative dialogue in leadership roles, from provocation to reflection, a shift in thinking, and implementation of highly effective leadership practices. The volume reinforces the ethical responsibility of educators to focus on practices that provide optimal learning environments for all students. Both an academic resource and an interactive manual, Leadership in Education features literature reviews, suggested readings, a glossary, thought provocations, and case studies with reflection questions to encourage deeper learning. Grounded in lived experiences and brimming with real stories of educators, this critical guidebook is ideal for graduate students in education and leadership programs.

This book explores the limits to rational management. The authors develop the idea of organizational irony as a central concept for analyzing and explaining management activity in a managerialist environment. Drawing on international research as well as their own extensive experience in educational organizations, the authors show that effectiveness is not necessarily the result of over-rationalistic approaches to educational management. Focusing on school leadership and management, authors Eric Hoyle and Mike Wallace suggest that major reforms have had limited success because the changes introduced have diverted school staff from their core task of promoting student learning. The result is dissatisfaction, frustration, and stress. The authors use the ironic perspective to show how practitioners respond by mediating the reforms.

This book offers a nuanced understanding of how two different theories of leadership can be applied to achieve better results within schools. These leadership theories – Instructional Leadership and Leadership for Learning – have assisted our recent understanding of school leadership. This book interrogates the theories themselves as well as their impact on education systems around the world. It also looks at how they can be practically applied to educate school leaders within their schools and beyond, building partnerships with families, schools and other community agencies serving students. In doing so, the book considers the possibility that these theories are not opposed, but two sides of the same coin. Both are underpinned by the question ‘how do we provide the best educational experience for students?’. The answer to this question will determine the way leaders go about the task of leading schools. This important book will be of interest and value to students and scholars of educational leadership, as well as educational leaders themselves.

How can school leaders shape organisations that offer consistently high quality, rounded and equitable education in the context of rapid change? How can wider education systems support and encourage all schools to succeed in this way? What are the challenges and opportunities involved? What can we learn from existing evidence and research? School Leadership and Education System Reform considers the ways in which school leadership and its practice has changed and developed in response to a rapidly changing educational context over the last decade. This new edition is substantially revised and updated, with ten completely new chapters. It includes contributions from a range of leading thinkers and researchers in the field of educational leadership and management. Theoretically and conceptually informed, the contributors draw on recent empirical research studies into leadership, learning and system reform in England and more widely to explore the key issues for contemporary school leadership and management in high-autonomy-high-accountability systems. New chapters look at: · System governance and lateral accountability in 'self-improving' school systems · Leading curriculum development and accelerating progress for disadvantaged children in schools · Effective deployment of teaching assistants/leadership for inclusion · School collaboration, partnerships and 'system leadership' · Securing improvement at scale, across multiple schools and across localities · New conceptions of leadership, including ethical and invitational leadership School Leadership and Education System Reform provides accessible but research and theory-informed chapters, each of which includes summaries and suggestions for further reading.

Fully revised and thoroughly updated, this second edition of this classic book brings together many leading international authors on educational leadership, with brand new chapters from leaders in the field Ken Leithwood, Paul Begley, Allan Walker and Alma Harris. Providing an overview of essential topics within the field, this book adopts an international perspective and offers conceptual and empirical insights into: - Moral and ethical leadership - Distributed leadership - Developing leaders - Leadership for learning - Building and leading learning cultures - Managing human and financial resources - Leadership for diversity - Leadership, partnerships and community - Professionalism and professional development The book is for scholars, researchers and postgraduate students in educational leadership, management and administration, as well as for senior leaders in education and those taking professional leadership qualifications.