The Changing Role of Leadership in Schools

Members of School Senior Leadership Teams (SLTs) such as Head Teachers or Key Stage/Year Heads have always been involved in pupil welfare, however, the pandemic highlighted the role of schools in providing wider support for children, staying open for families where children were not safe to stay at home, as well as those children of key workers. Effectively, some schools became front-line branches of social services. It is clear how much our society has long relied on schools in providing support for families and a safe haven for children (for at least part of the day) but what does this mean for Senior Leaders in supporting children’s well-being?

This PhD will focus on the changing nature of leadership among Senior Leaders in Schools, and the way in which Senior Leaders learn about and navigate children’s well-being issues, while also trying to maintain their core mission of supporting teaching and learning in schools. Such well-being issues might include those that focus on social justice or health issues, for example. Possible areas of focus for this PhD might include:

• What are the challenges and trade-offs of trying to support both education, and wider wellbeing issues?
• How much of Senior Leader’s time does this take? What support do they receive, and where does it come from?
• What are the related issues in the field of teacher leadership, student leadership and styles of leadership such as distributed leadership?
• How are difficult decisions about allocation of pupil premium money made?
• What happens to children during the holidays? What is the impact of keeping schools open for holiday lunch clubs?
• As the nature of the role changes, how does this impact on job satisfaction? How do Senior Leaders manage role changes?
• Are there implications for training of Senior Leaders?
• How do Senior Leaders work with other agencies (such as the police, social services) in supporting the safety and well-being of children?
• How do communications work with other agencies, particularly when no clear process is present?

This PhD will focus on the changing nature of leadership among Senior Leaders in Schools, and the way in which Senior Leaders learn about and navigate children’s well-being issues, while also trying to maintain their core mission of supporting teaching and learning in schools.