Reviews: Leadership

19 reviews found for "Leadership"

Book Review: Learning To Lead in a Secondary School: Becoming a Head of Department: Set in the context of the National College for School Leadership's rolling out of its 'leading from the middle strand', Brundrett and Terrell's edited text is timely and welcome. It presents a useful compendium of the work of the majority of theorists of educational leadership and management. Moreover through its 'Action Points' approach it will enable thoughtful subject leaders and middle managers to engage with some structured reflections on...
Book review : The Higher Education manager's handbook : effective leadership and management in universities and colleges: This is a book review of The Higher Education manager's handbook : effective leadership and management in universities and colleges by Peter McCaffery, published by Routledge in 2004, ISBN 9780415335072. It was reviewed by Claire Taylor of Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln on behalf of ESCalate. It covers the broader Higher Education environment before tackling specific topics such as leadership vs. management, performance management,...
Book review: Ethical educational leadership in turbulent times: (re) solving moral dilemmas: This is a book review of Ethical educational leadership in turbulent times: (re) solving moral dilemmas edited by Joan Poliner Shapiro and Steven Jay Gross, published by Routledge in 2007, ISBN 9780805856002. It was reviewed by Stephen Parker of the University of Worcester on behalf of ESCalate. This book describes leadership in terms of its moral purpose and effects, proposing a theoretical framework – the Multiple Ethical Paradigm – within...
Book Review: Effective Leadership for School Improvement: The high profile work of the National College for School Leadership in England is predicated upon the proposition that the leadership qualities of particular charismatic and/or highly effective individuals are the key determinant of school effectiveness. Under the influence of a powerful and well-funded government organisation, propositions about leadership and management can too easily be taken as proven and uncontroversial. Thus, those in...
Book Review: Democratic Leadership in Education (Leading Teachers, Leading Schools.): This book explores theories of democracy and their implications for leadership theory and practice in education
Book review : Motivating your team : coaching for performance: This is a book review of Motivating your team: coaching for performance by Peter R. Taylor, published by Paul Chapman in 2006, ISBN 1412921600. It was reviewed by Linda Jones of Learn2 Associates on behalf of ESCalate. The book has been written by an experienced leadership-practitioner and is consultant’s account of coaching for performance as a successful transformational tool. The central argument is that effective leaders create the conditions...
Book Review: Re-imagining Educational Leadership: This book is an extension of Brian Caldwell’s work on leadership and self-management in schools, and is influenced by Peter Drucker’s concept of ‘abandonment’ whereby organisations critically assess structures to evaluate those which will be useful to meet future challenges and those that should be ‘abandoned’. He illustrates how through the use of ‘new enterprise logic’ educational leaders are becoming re-energised and enthusiastic about the...
Book Review: Leadership for Mortals (Leading Teacher, leading Schools): In this book, Dean Fink addresses contemporary issues and what they mean for school leadership, focuses on the role of school leaders as the leaders of learning, critiques the fads of the leadership industry, suggests proven leadership strategies, and provides insights from contemporary international research on leadership
Book review : Connecting leadership and learning : principles for practice: This is a book review of Connecting leadership and learning : principles for practice edited by John MacBeath and Neil Dempster and published by Routledge in 2008, ISBN 9780415452953. It was reviewed by Pamela Parker of City University London on behalf of ESCalate. The book is aimed at leaders of schools and draws upon some research from projects undertaken across seven countries. The authors use the projects to test five key principles; a focus...
Book review : Developing school leaders : an international perspective: This is a book review of Developing school leaders : an international perspective edited by Mark Brundrett and Megan Crawford, published by Routledge in 2008, ISBN 9780415435727. It was reviewed by Linda Jones of Learn2 Associates on behalf of ESCalate. This book offers a balanced, historical account of the global and glocalised contexts shaping educational management systems for the future. The eleven chapters have been loosely scripted in...
Book review : Leadership and diversity : challenging theory and practice in education: This is a book review of Leadership and diversity : challenging theory and practice in education by Jacky Lumby with Marianne Coleman, published by Sage in 2007, ISBN 9781412921831. It was reviewed by Jacqueline Baxter the Open University for ESCalate. This book is aimed at those involved in educational management and policy makers. It concentrates on two particular aspects of diversity; gender and ethnicity, the strength of this approach is the...
Book Review: The Essentials of School Leadership: This is an essential read for students, parents, teachers, heads and governing bodies. Whether you browse, mull or go through with a fine toothcomb you are likely to discover pearls of wisdom and insight about leaders, leadership styles and what happens when the two come together
Book review : Values for educational leadership: This is a book review of Values for educational leadership by Graham Haydon, published by Paul Chapman Publishing in 2007, ISBN 9781412934688. It was reviewed by Margaret Simms of ProCEEd on behalf of ESCalate. Using plain language, the author treats readers to an introduction to the use of philosophy as an approach to thinking about one’s own values, their source and usefulness for educational leadership. The book is divided into six chapters...
Book review : Developing sustainable leadership: This is a book review of Developing sustainable leadership, edited by Brent Davies and published by Paul Chapman Publishing in 2007, ISBN 1412923964. It was reviewed by Simon Atkinson of the University of Hull on behalf of ESCalate. The fourteen authors brought together by Professor Davies provide a thought provoking, but evidently practical collection of essays which provoke reflection, criticism and at times frustration. The volume begins with...
Book Review: Leaders and leadership in Education: The ten chapters take us on a journey touring aspects of leadership and the contexts within which it is exercised. Most importantly it reminds us that the debate over leadership has not been settled, although particular positions may have been adopted. These 'can be revealed through an examination of research and theory and how this interconnects with its educational policy context.'
Book Review: Learning to Lead in Higher Education: The abstract and promotional details that introduce this useful work read as follows: 'Higher education is going through a revolution. There are more students, much less public money, and steadily greater pressures from employers and students for universities to be more accountable. At the same time, lecturers face job insecurity and confront bigger workloads, while universities are forced to become more efficient and business-like. The...
Book review : Leadership : professional communities of leadership practice in post-compulsory education: This is a book review of Leadership : professional communities of leadership practice in post-compulsory education by Jill Jameson, published by ESCalate in 2008, ISBN 9781905788828. It was reviewed by Deborah Lee of Nottingham Trent University. This title is part of the ESCalate Discussions in Education series and explores professional communities of leadership practice in post-compulsory education. Sections of this pamphlet are titled: what is...
Book Review: Leading the Strategically Focused School: Success and Sustainability: The keyword in the title to this book is ‘Strategically’ and a comprehensive account of strategy is what Professor Davies delivers. Books on management can be a very dry read. Often, management books are not attuned to the issues and unique setting that is a modern day school. This book, however, is neither dry nor out of touch with the needs of management in 21st century schools. At the heart of good management is concern about people, be they...
Book Review: Departmental Leadership in Higher Education: This interesting and well-written book is primarily intended for those who lead departments or other teams in higher education institutions. The first part, comprising four chapters, is entitled "Contexts" and each chapter addresses a theme such as "Changing" or "Leadership" while the second part called "Issues" focusses on particular task areas such as "Leading and Assessment" or "Leading Teaching and Learning"