Looking Into Primary Headship

Offers an analytical description of a primary headteacher at work over the course of one school year using a mix of participant-observation and interviews.

This is both a study of leadership and a research methods text. It offers an analytical description of a primary headteacher at work over the course of one school year. Using a mix of participant-observation and interviews, the book provides a portrait of this head's approach to his work - his background, beliefs, the school as a context, what he did, how he dealt with change and development, power and the personal dimension of headship. The portrait is matched to the contemporary literature and an hypothesis is formulated about primary headship and is then used to critique existing ideas about school leadership. The book also suggests ways of developing heads and school teachers.

By using evidence from interviews with primary headteachers, this book highlights the most serious problems experienced by primary heads. The management of school finance and premises and relationships with a range of other people involved in the life and work of the school are shown to be recurring historical issues in primary headship.

This text calls for a broader approach to comparative educational administration: one which uses culture as the principle means of analysis. The articles collected by Allan Walker and Clive Dimmock detail the educational practices and outcomes of other systems while taking into account the mediating influence of culture. In this way, these essays stress the specific aspects of the cultures studied, and map out common ground for the study of administrators' values, beliefs, and actions.

Education management and leadership is a key area of study in education. Educational Management: Major Themes in Education brings together the most important literature in the field, exploring the historical context, the training and development of leaders and their roles in leading people and managing resources in education. The collection provides a focus on the major issues which are current in educational management throughout the world. The four volumes are arranged thematically, as follows: Volume 1: Educational Values Values and Religion Emotions and Gender Politics and Micropolitics Volume 2: Educational Theory Theory School of Effectiveness and School Improvement Financial Management and LSM Further Education Volume 3: Educational Leadership Leadership and Headteachers Learning Leadership Middle Leadership Volume 4: Educational Change History and Research Strategy, Marketing, Change and Culture A new introduction by the editor provides an overview of the field and guides the reader through this wealth of material. Titles also available in this series include, Literacy (June 2004, 4 Volumes, £495), Special Educational Needs and Inclusive Education (August 2004, 4 Volumes, £495) and the forthcoming Early Years Education (2005, c.4 Volumes, c. £475)

`Researchers interested in various aspects of college leadership and management will find this book a convenient and scholarly introduction to related research in the school sector′ - Further Education Development Agency, College Research Journal `Educational management has become an important academic subject. The contributors to this volume have gauaranteed its survival as such by undertaking this review in order that they and others working in the field may take account of a range of agendas and initiatives. The outcome must be a fresh stance and a new sense of direction to enable a study of educational managment to meet the needs of teachers and their schools in the new millennium′ - Educational Research Educational Management brings together important original contributions from leading thinkers in the field. Edited by some of the key figures in educational management today, chapters examine the following key areas: Has self-management achieved the success predicted for it?; What should be the nature of professional development for educational leaders?; to what extent can education benefit by drawing from practice in business and industry?; can theory inform management practice in education?; how can research contribute to educational improvement?; how can leaders help improve classroom practice? Educational Management is one of the major outcomes of the ESRC ( Economic and Social Research Council) seminar series which aimed to redefine educational management in the light of the many developments in policy, practice, theory and research since the subject became established in the 1970s.

Published in 1994, this book provides both information and guidance for teachers and students looking to advance their careers in primary education. The author considers the opportunities which exist, showing teachers how to develop their careers in ways which fulfil a variety of ambitions. The author draws on research evidence about teachers’ work and careers, including his own survey of primary school headteachers. The issue of equal opportunities is addressed at each career stage, and advice is given on effective presentation of job applications and performance at interview.

Effective leadership and team working makes a crucial difference to the management of schools and colleges. This book takes readers through the different dimensions of leadership, and its relationship to good team work. Personal and organizational skills are dealt with alongside the more theoretical aspects of the subject. Throughout, the editors stress that leadership and team working are the core activities in managing people. This volume forms part of the Leadership and Management in Education series. This four book series provides a carefully chosen selection of high quality readings on key contemporary themes in educational management: professional development, reflection on practice, leadership, team working, effectiveness and improvement, quality, strategy and resources. The series will be an important resource for classroom teachers and lecturers as well as those holding designated management posts in schools and colleges and will provide a valuable basis for professional development programmes.