System Leadership in Practice

"With all the current interest in system reform and the spread of leadership, System Leadership in Practice is the only book in existence that treats the topic thoroughly and with insight. The authors have written a gem - a book that presents clear conceptual clarity linked to case after case example. They answer the burning question, how can we establish multi-faceted leadership that produces deep and sustained effectiveness."
Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto

"Leaders at all levels in schools and elsewhere in the public sector will readily engage with the issues and examples discussed in this book, and through doing so will understand more fully the new professional environment within which they work."
Learning and Teaching Update

System leadership is a new, exciting and growing phenomenon in education. It refers to leadership that goes beyond a single school, where leaders work directly for the success and welfare of students in other institutions as well as their own.

In this inspirational book, the authors offer you new perspectives, support and guidance – whether you are a school leader, policy-maker or advisor – and show how working collaboratively and leading networks can bring about positive change. They encourage you to innovate, develop rigorous partnerships, take managed risks and deploy resources creatively in order to build sustained improvements in student learning and well-being.

This much-needed book provides the first in-depth analysis of a term on the lips of many in the educational world. There is detailed reference to real cases of system leadership in practice, as well as recent legislation and relevant literature. At a time when prescription, bureaucracy and targets remain for many an impediment to the aims of education, school-led system leadership is seen to offer a means for professionals to take more control of educational renewal.

This book is indispensable reading for school leaders and senior teachers, educational policy makers and advisors, as well as anyone involved or interested in education and its leadership.

Dr Rob Higham is the Research Councils UK Academic at the Institute of Education (IOE), University of London, UK. He previously worked in the UK Government’s Department for Education, including as a ministerial speech writer.

Professor David Hopkins is Professor Emeritus at the IOE and formerly the inaugural HSBC iNet Chair in International Leadership. He served three Secretaries of State for Education in the UK as the Chief Adviser on School Standards.

Dr Peter Matthews OBE is a Visiting Professorial Fellow at the IOE, an educational consultant and Schools Adjudicator. He was previously a senior member of Her Majesty's Inspectorate and worked in schools, local authorities and higher education.