The changing context of leadership: Research, theory and practice

Leadership is currently in vogue. Across many Western countries, there has been a renewed emphasis upon improving leadership capacity and capability in the drive towards higher standards. Governments around the world are involved in the business of educational reform. Improving the microefficiency of the school has been viewed as a means of addressing some of the macro-problems of the state and society (Macbeath, 1988: 47). The pressure upon schools to raise achievement has resulted in reduced teacher autonomy and increased demands for higher performance. Even though there are few certainties about the ability of educational policy to secure higher performance from the educational system, the arguments for investment in education remain powerful and compelling.