Course Details
Sustaining leadership effectiveness in schools
Leadership is a fundamental factor in a school’s ability to improve, develop and grow. For many years, the emphasis in the English-speaking world has been on leaders rather than leadership, ie, the focus has been on the characteristics of individuals who occupy positions at the top of the hierarchy. This approach is now being questioned for a number of reasons:
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the increasing difficulty in recruiting individuals to fill senior posts
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the growing complexity of the demands on leaders in schools
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a recognition that a focus on 'leaders' may be inappropriate in schools that are committed to learning
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the demands that the role makes on individuals
One response to these imperatives has been to see leadership as a collective capacity in the school with the emphasis shifting to the idea of shared or distributed leadership. However, structural changes have to be set alongside a focus on enhancing the capacity of the individual, whatever their leadership role, to maintain and sustain their personal effectiveness. This course explores the basis of personal effectiveness in the context of school leadership.
The aims of the course are:
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to review and analyse existing models of personal and leadership effectiveness
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to develop an understanding of the role of trust in developing leadership sustainability
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to identify the learning and development strategies that are appropriate to sustaining personal and leadership potential
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to review strategies for personal sustainability
The course will be helpful to school leaders at all levels, governors and those responsible for continuing professional development.
Author Biography
Meet the course author:
John West-Burnham is a consultant in leadership development and an author. He was Director of Professional Research and Development at the London Leadership Centre, Institute of Education, University of London and was previously Professor of Educational Leadership, International Leadership Centre, University of Hull.
John worked in schools, further and adult education for fifteen years before moving into higher education. He was a part-time Open University tutor for 15 years. He has worked at Crewe and Alsager College, the University of Leicester and the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside. He was also Development Officer for Teacher Performance for Cheshire LEA.
John is author of Managing Quality in Schools, co-author of Effective Learning in Schools, Leadership and Professional Development in Schools and co-editor of Performance Management in Schools, Educational Leadership and the Community, The Handbook of Educational Leadership and Management, and many more books, articles and chapters.