Leadership in schools involves intentionally influencing activities and relationships based on a clear sense of direction. Effective school leaders define their values and vision to raise expectations, set directions, and build trust. They reshape teaching and learning conditions, restructure organizational parts, redesign leadership roles, enrich the curriculum, and enhance teacher and teaching quality. Additionally, they foster internal collaboration and build strong external relationships.
Education leader practices
Education leaders play a crucial role in shaping the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning in schools. By employing a variety of practices, they create environments where students and teachers can thrive and achieve their full potential.
Key messages
Traditionally, school leadership was seen as the domain of formal roles like principals and deputies. However, modern perspectives recognize that leadership is not confined to formal positions or a single person's authority. Leadership can be practiced by various individuals and viewed as an organizational quality. When seen this way, leadership becomes a social practice that stretches across individuals within the school.
Effective school leadership is always context-dependent. Principals adapt their activities and leadership styles based on various factors, such as the size and location of the school and the background of students. The importance of context was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when principals had to engage in crisis management. Awareness of these contexts and the ability to adjust leadership accordingly are fundamental to effective school leadership.
Context
Principals’ leadership activities
School principals engage in different leadership practices, both more instructional and more administrative. On average across the OECD, 65% of principals report that they “review school administrative procedures and reports”, 50% report that they “provided feedback to teachers based on [their] observations”.
