Leadership

Leadership is a research-based measure from the Tell Them From Me surveys. It is a source of evidence linked to What works best and the School Excellence Framework.

What is it?

Educational leadership involves reciprocal and meaningful learning within a school community. It involves school leaders supporting teachers to improve their practice to better support the learning needs of their students.

The Tell Them From Me surveys ask teachers about their interactions with school leaders and the extent to which these interactions have supported improvements in their professional practice. The results are reported as teachers' average score for leadership

Why is it important?

While the relationship between principals, teachers and students is complex, research has shown that school leadership can positively impact student outcomes. Principal leadership can indirectly influence student achievement through school policies and norms, such as instructional organisation and learning time. Positive teacher perceptions of a principal's leadership style can also facilitate improvements in classroom instruction and school climate. Educational leadership is most effective when leaders listen and make both formal and informal suggestions to teachers that are based on their experiences.

School improvement links

School Excellence Framework element What works best theme
Learning and development Collaboration
Educational leadership

Evidence base

Blase, J., & Blase, J. (2000). Effective instructional leadership: Teachers' perspectives on how principals promote teaching and learning in schools. Journal of Educational Administration, 38(2), 130-141.

Hallinger, P., & Heck, R. H. (1996). Reassessing the principal's role in school effectiveness: A review of empirical research, 1980-1995. Educational Administration Quarterly, 32(1), 5-44.

Hattie, J. (2009). Visible learning: A synthesis of over 800 meta-analyses relating to achievement. New York: Routledge.

Karadağ, E., Bektaş, F., Çoğaltay, N., & Yalçın, M. (2015). The effect of educational leadership on students’ achievement: A meta-analysis study. Asia Pacific Education Review, 16(1), 79-93.

Lambert, L. (2003). Leadership redefined: An evocative context for teacher leadership. School Leadership & Management, 23(4), 421-430.

Rhodes, J. E., Camic, P. M., Milburn, M., & Lowe, S. R. (2009). Improving middle school climate through teacher‐centered change. Journal of Community Psychology, 37(6), 711-724.

Image: This explainer has been produced in collaboration with The Learning Bar

Explainers of the Tell Them From Me measures have been produced in collaboration with The Learning Bar. The Tell Them From Me measures are provided by, and remain the intellectual property of, The Learning Bar. The explainers can also be found online within the Tell Them From Me portal. Tell Them From Me and TTFM are trademarks of The Learning Bar.

Category:

  • Student engagement and wellbeing
  • Tell Them From Me

Business Unit:

  • Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation
Return to top of page Back to top