`Keith Grint's persuasive essay on the art of leadership in Effective Educational Leadership is uncannily accurate' - Tim Brighouse, Times Educational Supplement `its unique contribution is the exploration of links between leadership discourses and the themes that have emerged from the school effectiveness movements since the 1980s. Riley and MacBeath provide one of the most valuable contributions to the volume by arguing that there are no generic recipes for educational leadership but ingredients which need to be carefully selected with a knowledge of specific contexts and needs. I would use this book with graduate students and practitioners seeking to develop a perspective about contemporary educational leadership. Its greatest contribution is its exploration of the links between effective leadership and effective education. The book also provides optimism in that many of the authors have not capitulated to the reductionist visions of the past two decades. There is still hope that educational theorists and practitioners view the life world as the true source of educational inspiration' - Journal of Educational Administration `Leadership is the theme of this decade. This series provides an enormously valuable overview of all the critical issues involved in designing leadership as the main strategy for educational reform.... A great and timely collection'- Michael Fullan, Dean, OISE/University of Toronto `This book makes an excellent contribution to the current debate on Educational Leadership. It blends theory with practice and as such provides an important resource for many aspects of leadership development programmes at a variety of levels. Its ability to draw upon international perspectives along with examples beyond conventional educational parameters enhances its quality. The book contains a well documented account of how leadership has been studied which will appeal both to the academic reader, and to the professional provider of CPD in leadership, offering a wealth of information that can be practically adopted and adapted for a range of courses' - Stephen Merrill, Journal of Inservice Education Educational management and administration studies focus on leadership as a key determinant of effective educational institutions; and currently, much leadership preparation is characterized by a rational skills-focused approach. Placing current thinking in leadership studies in its organizational and historical context, this book explores its implications for leadership preparation, leadership theory in action and examines some of the dilemmas and tensions facing educational leaders in practice. It draws on literature and research from both the private and public sectors. It is deliberately international in its content and focus, and examines a range of practice both within and outside education. Each chapter has a short introduction by the editors setting it in context. This book is for providers and students in higher educational institutions; for postgraduate level courses in educational management; and for leadership development provision for Headteachers induction programmes, NPQH and LPSH. It is also suitable for short courses and for practitioners occupying or aspiring to leadership roles in schools, colleges and other educational organizations.

The charismatic transformational leader, who creates a 'vision' for the future of their organization and persuades others to follow their path towards it, is now the dominant viewpoint that underpins government policies towards leadership development in the English-speaking world.

This book offers a much-needed corrective to this orthodoxy by focusing on current research and thinking about 'leadership' rather than 'leaders. A wide range of prominent international contributors present a rare self critical look at their own assertions and test alternative leadership models against recent research projects. They also demonstrate how their analysis is relevant to all countries where leadership is an issue.

Major features include:

] alternative theories to understanding

the nature of leadership

] how leadership could be analyzed

] re-analysis of recent research carried out by contributors in the light of one or more of the alternative theories examined

] implications of the alternative perspectives for leadership training

This book is recommended to all staff and students involved in educational leadership, management or administration programmes.

Drawing together current thinking and research by leading writers in the field, this Reader will help you to understand and critically analyse key strategic aspects of educational leadership, including: - leadership perspectives and values - external and internal contexts - autonomy and accountability - partnership and collaboration - leading strategy and change. The book explores major challenges for educational leaders in managing the increasingly permeable boundary between educational organisations and their external contexts and reconciling environmental expectations and internal priorities. The Reader will encourage you to positively problematize the field and reflect on current debates and issues. This book will be an essential resource for providers and students of postgraduate level courses in educational leadership and management, as well as those involved in undertaking professional development programmes. It will also serve the reflective practitioner as personal reference when occupying or aspiring towards leadership roles in schools, colleges and other educational organisations. Dr Maggie Preedy, Professor Nigel Bennett and Dr Christine Wise have taught, researched and published widely in the field of educational leadership and management. Maggie Preedy and Christine Wise are Senior Lecturers in the Faculty of Education and Language Studies at The Open University, UK. Nigel Bennett is Emeritus Professor of Leadership and Management in Education at The Open University.

`This reader is certainly worth a place in any consultant's start-up kit, and offers useful refreshment for all but the most expert' - Education Systems The articles in this book outline the main principles of reflective practice and consultancy, and relate them to a view of management as concerned with a constant process of reviewing and improving practice. The book explores a number of research strategies including case studies, surveys and action research, and provides a wide range of techniques for planning, data collection, data analysis and presentation, bearing in mind the different audiences and purposes an investigation might serve. This book is the companion volume to Educational Management in Action: a collection of case studies (edited by Megan Crawford, Lesley Kydd and Susan Parker). It is one of the two course readers for The Open University Course E828 Educational Management in Action.

Evidence-Informed Policy and Practice (EIPP) has emerged as an important concept. The availability and growing interest in evidence, alongside pressure for improved public services have made it a key component of the government's modernization agenda. It is relevant to all parts of the public sector, to education, and specifically, to educational leadership. Successful educational leadership is regarded as an essential factor in raising educational standards.

In this book, the editors have drawn together key figures in the field of EIPP to introduce its role in informing educational leadership, with the aim of improving learning and teaching. The EIPP approach is considered, both for structuring research studies and for the analysis of the data generated. Relevant examples are also provided to inform the current debate.

This book is important reading for educational professionals, policy makers, practitioners and students.

The charismatic transformational leader, who creates a 'vision' for the future of their organization and persuades others to follow their path towards it, is now the dominant viewpoint that underpins government policies towards leadership development in the English-speaking world.

This book offers a much-needed corrective to this orthodoxy by focusing on current research and thinking about 'leadership' rather than 'leaders. A wide range of prominent international contributors present a rare self critical look at their own assertions and test alternative leadership models against recent research projects. They also demonstrate how their analysis is relevant to all countries where leadership is an issue.

Major features include:

] alternative theories to understanding

the nature of leadership

] how leadership could be analyzed

] re-analysis of recent research carried out by contributors in the light of one or more of the alternative theories examined

] implications of the alternative perspectives for leadership training

This book is recommended to all staff and students involved in educational leadership, management or administration programmes.

`Keith Grint's persuasive essay on the art of leadership in Effective Educational Leadership is uncannily accurate' - Tim Brighouse, Times Educational Supplement `its unique contribution is the exploration of links between leadership discourses and the themes that have emerged from the school effectiveness movements since the 1980s. Riley and MacBeath provide one of the most valuable contributions to the volume by arguing that there are no generic recipes for educational leadership but ingredients which need to be carefully selected with a knowledge of specific contexts and needs. I would use this book with graduate students and practitioners seeking to develop a perspective about contemporary educational leadership. Its greatest contribution is its exploration of the links between effective leadership and effective education. The book also provides optimism in that many of the authors have not capitulated to the reductionist visions of the past two decades. There is still hope that educational theorists and practitioners view the life world as the true source of educational inspiration' - Journal of Educational Administration `Leadership is the theme of this decade. This series provides an enormously valuable overview of all the critical issues involved in designing leadership as the main strategy for educational reform.... A great and timely collection'- Michael Fullan, Dean, OISE/University of Toronto `This book makes an excellent contribution to the current debate on Educational Leadership. It blends theory with practice and as such provides an important resource for many aspects of leadership development programmes at a variety of levels. Its ability to draw upon international perspectives along with examples beyond conventional educational parameters enhances its quality. The book contains a well documented account of how leadership has been studied which will appeal both to the academic reader, and to the professional provider of CPD in leadership, offering a wealth of information that can be practically adopted and adapted for a range of courses' - Stephen Merrill, Journal of Inservice Education Educational management and administration studies focus on leadership as a key determinant of effective educational institutions; and currently, much leadership preparation is characterized by a rational skills-focused approach. Placing current thinking in leadership studies in its organizational and historical context, this book explores its implications for leadership preparation, leadership theory in action and examines some of the dilemmas and tensions facing educational leaders in practice. It draws on literature and research from both the private and public sectors. It is deliberately international in its content and focus, and examines a range of practice both within and outside education. Each chapter has a short introduction by the editors setting it in context. This book is for providers and students in higher educational institutions; for postgraduate level courses in educational management; and for leadership development provision for Headteachers induction programmes, NPQH and LPSH. It is also suitable for short courses and for practitioners occupying or aspiring to leadership roles in schools, colleges and other educational organizations.

`It is an easy read but a book with substance; to be read chapter by chapter or to dip into for advice. Yes, I would recommend this book to others. Certainly a book for the staff library and one that I expect to see on many a course reading list' - Management in Education This book provides a different approach to management development for teachers holding positions of responsibility in schools below the level of senior management. It argues that practical help for managers in schools lies in developing a sound understanding of the nature of their job rather than following recipes and applying formulae. Instead of offering a how-to-do-it recipe of `tips for teachers' which may or may not be helpful, it provides the means for teachers to analyse their work, its setting, and the attitudes and expectations of their colleagues, so that they can decide which techniques are likely to be helpful.