Fit for purpose? Western Australian insights into the efficacy of principal preparation

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to highlight what principals consider their most severe challenges in the first three years of appointment and the extent to which they believe they were adequately prepared to meet these challenges.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reports on the initial Western Australian findings of a survey developed for Phase Three of the International Study of Principal Preparation (ISPP). The survey was designed as a common instrument across international contexts to investigate those aspects of principals' work perceived to be most challenging in the early years in the position and the extent to which principals believe they were prepared for these challenges. The survey was administered to 45 novice principals in Western Australia.FindingsThe preliminary results of the survey have yielded some insights that draw attention to what principals regard as their main challenges and the extent to which they felt prepared to deal with them.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample size is a little small for some of the analyses and results need to be treated with caution.Practical implicationsThe insights derived from responses to the survey have clear implications for the efficacy of role preparation and development.Originality/valueThe paper helps to clarify those aspects of the work of novice primary principals which they find most problematic, relative to other aspects and the extent to which they felt prepared to deal with them.