Creatures that by a rule in nature teach the act of order (henry V act 1 scene 2): A case study of sustainable transformational leadership in a challenging school

Abstract

This chapter follows the transformation of a failing school in central England, which had a long history of underachievement. The case study analyses the strategies that were developed to establish successful school leadership in a school in challenging circumstances, and examines the likelihood that these changes will be sustainable in the future. A brief outline of the principles of transformational leadership is followed by the strategies for change in respect of the pupils, parents, teaching and leadership. The degree to which transformational leadership informed these changes is analysed and the close parallels between transformational leadership and leadership which is sustainable are outlined; both are essential since it has been acknowledged that most school leadership practices create temporary, localized flurries of change but little lasting or widespread improvement (Hargreaves & Fink, Educ Leadersh 611:8-13, 2004). In this case study existing definitions of transformational leadership have been used to provide an analytical framework for the leadership actions of the headteacher.