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Making a difference: a study of effective middle leadership in schools facing challenging circumstances - summary
Author:
Katy Emmerson, Dr Fred Paterson, Professor Geoff Southworth and Professor John West-Burnham
Subject:
Middle leadership
Audience:
Headteachers, Middle leaders and aspiring headteachers
Date of publication:
June 2006 |
File format and size:
PDF, 143 Kb
It is apparent that some secondary schools facing challenging circumstances are much more successful than others and that within these schools some departments are more successful than others.
The effective leadership of learning is recognised as critical to school effectiveness and improvement. Research has also shown that middle leaders are pivotal to any strategy to develop learning-centred leadership in schools.This report explores leadership practice in successful departments, with examples of the characteristics and strategies of effective middle leaders.
Characteristics of high-performing middle leaders
Five characteristics came through strongly in every department visited and were noted in almost all interactions that took place:
- a focus on learning
- consistency
- care
- commitment
- high expectations
These characteristics are reinforced and consolidated by a range of strategies. Whilst the characteristics and strategies can be seen as distinctive elements, it is their interdependence that characterises the highly effective middle leaders.
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