Creatures That by a Rule in Nature Teach the Act of Order (Henry V Act 1 Scene 2): A Case Study of Sustainable Transformational Leadership in a Challenging School

Chapter
First Online:

Abstract

This chapter follows the transformation of a failing school in central England, which had a long history of underachievement. The case study analyses the strategies that were developed to establish successful school leadership in a school in challenging circumstances, and examines the likelihood that these changes will be sustainable in the future. A brief outline of the principles of transformational leadership is followed by the strategies for change in respect of the pupils, parents, teaching and leadership. The degree to which transformational leadership informed these changes is analysed and the close parallels between transformational leadership and leadership which is sustainable are outlined; both are essential since it has been acknowledged that most school leadership practices create temporary, localized flurries of change but little lasting or widespread improvement (Hargreaves & Fink, Educ Leadersh 611:8–13, 2004). In this case study existing definitions of transformational leadership have been used to provide an analytical framework for the leadership actions of the headteacher.

Keywords

Innovation and change Leading a challenging school Practical school improvement 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. Bass, B., & Riggio, R. (2006). Transformational leadership (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
  2. Bell, L., & Smith, P. (2011). Transactional and transformational leadership in schools in challenging circumstances: A policy paradox. Management in Education, 25(2), 58–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Day, C. (2009). Building and sustaining successful principalship in England: The importance of trust. Journal of Educational Administration, 47(6), 719–730.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Donaldson, G. (2001). Cultivating leadership in schools: Connecting people, purpose, and practice. Williston, VT: Teachers College Press.Google Scholar
  5. Eagly, A., Johannesen-Schmidt, M., & van Engen, M. (2003). Transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership styles: A meta-analysis comparing women and men. Psychological Bulletin, 129(4), 569–591.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Georgiades, N., & Philimore, L. (1975). The myth of the hero innovator and other strategies for organizational change. In C. Kieman & F. Woodford (Eds.), Behaviour modification with the severely retarded. Amsterdam: Associated Scientific Publications.Google Scholar
  7. Gov. U.K. (2014). Press release: Academy goes from failing to outstanding in two years. Department of Education. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/news/academy-goes-from-failing-to-outstanding-in-just-2-years
  8. Guardian. (2016). Workshop school in line for top national pupils award. Retrieved from http://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/local/worksop-school-in-line-for-top-national-pupils-award-1-7724996
  9. Hargreaves, A., & Fink, D. (2004). The seven principles of sustainable leadership. Educational Leadership, 611(7), 8–13.Google Scholar
  10. Jackson, L. (n.d.). Leading sustainable schools. Nottingham: National College for School Leadership. Retrieved from http://www.arcworld.org/downloads/14669_lead_sus_school%20(2).pdf
  11. Leithwood, K., Anderson, S., Mascall, B., & Strauss, T. (2011). School leaders influence on student learning. In T. Bush, L. Bell, & D. Middleton (Eds.), The principles of educational leadership and management. London: Sage.Google Scholar
  12. Leithwood, K., & Jantzi, D. (2009). Transformational leadership. In B. Davies (Ed.), The essentials of school leadership (2nd ed.). London: Sage.Google Scholar
  13. Liebman, H., Maldonado, N., Lacey, C., & Thompson, S. (2005). An investigation of leadership in a professional learning community: A case study of a large, suburban, public middle school. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Florida Educational Research Association, Miami, FL. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED494982
  14. Ofsted (2010). https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/963159/urn/122863.pdf (accessed 18 August 2016)Google Scholar
  15. Ofsted (2012). https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/files/963159/urn/122863.pdf (accessed 18 August 2016)Google Scholar
  16. Ofsted. (2015). School inspection handbook. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-from-september-2015
  17. Smith, P., & Bell, L. (2014). Leading schools in challenging circumstances. London: Bloomsbury.Google Scholar
  18. Verona, G., & Young, J. (2001). The influence of principal transformational leadership style on high school proficiency test results in New Jersey comprehensive and vocational-technical high schools. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Seattle, WA. Retrieved from http://www.ric.d.ov/ERICWebPortal/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED454281
  19. Zelig, D. (2016). Adoption of innovation from the business sector to pot primary education organizations. Management in Education, 30(1), 19–28.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.University of LincolnLinbcolnUK

Personalised recommendations