School leadership - Jim O'Brien

Effective school leadership is essential. As schools become increasingly complex organizations and their role in socializing young people is recognized, the task of leading the school community is receiving greater attention than ever before. School Leadership summarizes current thinking about leadership in schools and suggests ways forward. School leadership is set in its social context. Is leadership associated with function within a bureaucratically ordered hierarchy, is it widely shared across communities, or is it both? The school is considered both as an institution of the State and as an agency of democratic values. Ideas as to who the leaders are and what leadership involves are recast. The authors' recent experience with Scotland's Headship preparation and development is discussed and analyzed. The Scottish experience provides examples of general issues facing many schools and school leaders. School Leadership is required reading for head teachers, education administrators, and for those aspiring to leadership roles in schools.