Model Of School Leadership Research Articles

Mission, faith and management: Co-constructing leadership in a Beacon Lower School

The Beacon scheme was devised by the Department for Education and Employment as a project ‘specifically designed to help raise standards in schools through the sharing and spread of good practice’ (DfEE, 1999a). The article outlines the nature of the Beacon Schools Scheme and examines and delineates some of the management processes in one such school, a Church Aided Lower School, in one of the largest towns in the UK. As a central contention the article argues that the ubiquitous management paradigm of ‘collegiality’ is neither a sufficient nor an accurate representation of effective models of school leadership. An alternative conception of ‘co-constructed leadership’ is suggested which may provide equal benefits in legitimating leadership decisions, whilst at the same time enabling the exercise of appropriate ‘authority’ by school leaders.

Towards a Model of School Leadership

In this wide ranging paper, Hugh Busher of the University of Loughborough and Rene Saran of the Institute of Education of the University of London explore the models currently available to examine the work of headteachers. They re-examine the problems faced by professional leaders in professionally staffed organisations and conclude that some models of leadership are more appropriate to schools than others.