Leading School-Based Networks

ISBN-13: 9780415464642 / Angielski / Twarda / 2009 / 164 str.

Mark Hadfield;Christopher Chapman

Opis

The persistent challenge of achieving excellence and equity within education systems has renewed interest in generating context-specific solutions through localised school networks. But how can successful school networks be developed? Based around the lifecycle of a network, this book traces the development of a network from its initial inception, exploring the ways in which it can be sustained and remain capable of meeting the future challenges faced by schools and their communities. The book explores a series of important issues facing school leaders, including:

• the benefits of investing time and energy in networks with other schools and communities
• the particular problems faced by schools and the education system which are best tackled by network-based solutions
• the advantages for schools and communities of engaging with collaborative reform agenda
• the ways in which networks can be managed, and the differences between leading a school or a team and a network
• the elements which make an effective network.

The book draws on UK and international research to discuss the development and leadership of networks and to outline a number of tried-and-tested leadership approaches. In addition, the authors draw on their own experience and research to provide accounts of real networks to expose the realities of networking. Each chapter tackles a key leadership issue and ends with a series of tools to support those leading and facilitating networks tackle these in practice. This book will be of interest to practising school leaders, network co-ordinators, postgraduate students and those researching educational leadership and school improvement.

Schools have a well-established history of working together, but the persistence of challenges, such as under achievement and disengagement with learning, and the apparent failure of mass improvement programmes to overcome them, has renewed interest in generating context-specific solutions through localised networks and collaboratives. As networking and collaboration have become more mainstream activities, new leadership challenges have emerged for existing school leaders and prompted discussion about whether new types of leaders and leadership are required.

Leading and Developing School-based Networks takes the reader from the initial inception of a network to considering how to make it sustainable and capable of meeting the future challenges faced by schools and their communities. The book explores a series of important issues facing school leaders as they grapple what has been termed ‘the collaborative reform agenda’, including:

• Why spend time and energy in networks with other schools and communities?
• Which issues faced by schools and the education system are best tackled by network-based solutions?
• How do you go about leading a network? Is it very different from leading a school or team?
• What do we already know about what makes a network effective?

The authors draw their experience of supporting and leading a range of school networks to outline a number of tried-and-tested leadership approaches and theories. This book will be of interest to school leaders and those researching school leadership.

Spis treści

1. Why get involved in a network of schools?  2. Designing an effective school network  3. Establishing a school network  4. Building leadership capacity  5. Sustaining and developing  6. Facilitating a network  7. Where next?

O autorze

Mark Hadfield, Christopher Chapman