The Leadership File

by John E.C. Macbeath

Leadership. It is a term full of ambiguity and a range of interpretations. It is a humpty dumpty word that can mean ‘just what we want it to mean’ (Humpty Dumpty, quoted in Alice in Wonderland). “Leadership models in education are subject to the same faddism that is apparent in other areas of education. Today’s favourite brand is soon replaced by another”, says Phil Hallinger who has studied leadership for four decades. This booklet describes some of the different varieties in current use in order to help clear some conceptual ground – for teachers, for students, for teachers, and for school leaders who may, perhaps, recognise themselves in one or more of these descriptors. In this plethora of “word magic of the worst kind” (Hodgkinson, 1993, p.21) you may choose for yourself what are useful and what may be redundant concepts, or words that unintentionally, or intentionally, mislead. Each of the definitions is accompanied by a set of questions or activities for individuals or groups plus references to further reading and useful resources.

64 pages, Paperback

Published January 30, 2004