The passion of successful leadership

This paper reports multiperspective research on 10 successful, experienced headteachers working in a range of urban and suburban schools of different sizes (with different school populations and free school meals indices of between 20% and 62%). All had raised the levels of measurable pupil attainments in their schools and all were highly regarded by their peers. A key characteristic among the heads was that, regardless of styles and strategies, all revealed a passion for education, for pupils and for the communities in which they worked. The research revealed that the 10 headteachers sustained their success by the application of the a combination of 10 essential leadership qualities, skills and principles and that these enabled them to manage a number of tensions and dilemmas associated with the management of change. Fundamental to the achievement of success, however, was their passion for students, school and community. This paper explores the nature of this passion in relation in particular to six factors which are fundamental to success; achievement, care, collaboration, commitment, trust and inclusivity.1 This research is part of a longitudinal, international, eight country study (ISSLP) which is seeking to establish cross‐country, cross‐cultural comparisons of successful headship in Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, England, Norway, Sweden and the USA. For details of this project see: www.oise.utoronto.ca/～schoolleadership/ssl.html. The English study on which this research is based was financially supported by N.C.S.L., NAHT and S.H.A.