The Essentials of School Leadership

A new edition of this book is available

`In conclusion this is an excellent collection of writers and their ideas. It is difficult to think where else such a resource would be available under one cover. An inspiring and valuable book that school leaders should read′ - International Journal of Educational Management

`The strength of the book lies in its accessibility to both dipping and serious readers; those with a vague interest in the general field of leadership and those who want to identify, pursue or hone a particular leadership style. What the editor does not offer is another book of leadership styles for their own sake, nor does he set one style against another but acknowledges an array of leadership styles to grow leaders of sustainable schools in differing circumstances and environments. A clearly structured, essential text for anyone serious about leadership′ - ESCalate

`The Essentials of School Leadership contains many of my favourite writers on educational leadership, Brian Caldwell, Brent Davies, Brenda Beatty, Andy Hargreaves, Kenneth Leithwood, Robert Starratt and Linda Lambert. I like to keep fresh by following their thinking, and I wasn′t disappointed, finding writing that is insightful and mostly practical′ - Professor David Loader, Australian College of Educators

`The jewels in the book are the opening and closing chapters by Brent and Barbara Davies on "strategic" leadership, any by Andy Hargreaves on "sustainability" leadership. The book is worth buying for those alone, and for Geoff Southworth′s reflective, practical piece on "learning-centred" leadership. This is one for the staffroom library′ - Tim Brighouse, TES Friday Magazine

`Educational reform is entering a new phase. In many educational systems there is a move from ′national prescription′, which has produced significant gains in the short term to a focus on ′schools leading reform′. Here the promise is of more sustainable development in the medium term, but this is crucially dependent on the quality of school leadership.

In his new book The Essentials of School Leadership, Brent Davies and his collaborators offer us a comprehensive, reflective yet eminently practical review of the approaches to school leadership that underpin the continuing rise in educational standards and the building of professional capacity in our schools′ - David Hopkins, Chief Adviser on School Standards, Department for Education and Skills

`At the very time when leadership is recognized as the key to sustainable reform, Brent Davies′ The Essentials of School Leadership is right on the mark.This is a comprehensive, powerful treatment of all core elements of new leadership from the ethical to the political, from the emotional to the entrpreneurial. A must-have compendium for those grappling with the present and future of school leadership′ - Michael Fullan, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Canada

A joint publication with Corwin Press and NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) Press

Examining current themes in educational leadership and considering the dimensions of various types of leadership, this book includes contributions from internationally recognised leading authors on the subject.

Each chapter introduces the reader to a main theme or facet of leadership with the book as a whole giving an overview of the key ideas in the field. With a clear introduction by Brent Davies, this book provides a core source book as well as a contemporary introduction to the essentials of educational leadership.

Written in an accessible style, this book is for school leaders who wish to have a better understanding of their leadership role. It is also suitable for Masters/Doctoral students in the UK, US, Australia and worldwide, and will give those on professional development courses a valuable insight into school leadership.

Dr Brent Davies is Professor of International Leadership Development at the University of Hull . He is also a Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Visiting Professor at the Institute of Education (University of London), Special Professor at the University of Nottingham and a Faculty Member of the Centre on Educational Governance at the University of Southern California. He is an Associate Director of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.

 Brent spent the first ten years of his career working as a teacher in South London. He then moved into higher education and now works exclusively on leadership and management development programmes for senior and middle managers in schools. He was Director of the International MBA in School Leadership at Leeds Metropolitan University. He then took up a post at the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside to establish the first Chair in Educational Leadership and create the International Educational Leadership Centre in Lincoln. He moved to the University of Hull in 2000 to establish the International Leadership Centre. In 2004 he transferred within the University to become a research professor in leadership development at the Hull University Business School.