Is there a way out? A critical analysis of participation, leadership and management in Spanish schools

Abstract

In this article, we reflect on the process of improvement of education in Spanish schools, using a theoretical exploration of two key concepts to understand school management: participation and leadership. Accordingly, and taking the principalship as a point of reference, we undertake a critical analysis which underscores the difficulties found in the school management process. Along the way, we consider the necessity of advancing the development of democratic participation and educational leadership in our schools. In broad outline, we want to underscore that, in theory, the process of management has been set out as a process for the integration of collectives in the school's activities, but, in practice, has turned out to be a technology at the service of organizational control. This has resulted in few advances in democratic participation and little development of educational leadership in our schools.