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Secondary school leadership preparation and development: Experiences and aspirations of members of senior leadership teams (SLTs)

Cliffe, Joanne; Fuller, Kay; Moorosi, Pontso

Authors

Joanne Cliffe

KAY FULLER Kay.Fuller@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Gender and Educational Leadership

Pontso Moorosi



Abstract

In England, school leadership preparation has shifted from the National College and local authorities to teaching schools, their alliances and multi-academy trusts. Against this changing educational landscape, we investigate opportunities presented to men and women in secondary school leadership teams (SLTs). Drawing on interview data from a British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society funded investigation, we report on leadership preparation and development opportunities, aspiration to headship, headteachers’ support of ‘in house’, regional and national preparation programmes, coaching and mentoring involvement as well as access to formal and informal networks. Our analysis of SLTs as sites of potential for headship demonstrated some variability in women’s and men’s reported experiences. Accredited courses, higher degrees and workplace-based preparation provided access to leadership preparation and development opportunities; access was not transferrable from school to school. We identified a fragmented system and suggest policy and cultural changes to allow SLTs to offer inclusive and sustainable opportunities for succession planning.

Citation

Cliffe, J., Fuller, K., & Moorosi, P. (2018). Secondary school leadership preparation and development: Experiences and aspirations of members of senior leadership teams (SLTs). Management in Education, 32(2), 85-91. doi:10.1177/0892020618762714

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 21, 2018
Online Publication Date Mar 21, 2018
Publication Date 2018-04
Deposit Date Nov 29, 2018
Print ISSN 0892-0206
Publisher SAGE Publications (UK and US)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 32
Issue 2
Pages 85-91
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/0892020618762714
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1216536
Publisher URL https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0892020618762714