Leading Improvement

Bernard Barker

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Develop your school’s strengths

In an era of technological transformation and globalisation, every organisation, from the greatest corporation to the smallest company, is under unprecedented pressure to change. Unless organisations can match their competitors’ speed, efficiency and quality, they will perish, sooner rather than later. Schools are not protected from this pressure.

A core text for school leaders

With the arrival of the National College for School Leadership, Bernard Barker's study of Leading Improvement has become a core text for those who want to understand the change process. Packed with case studies, theoretical models and practical applications, Leading Improvement is an essential companion for the thoughtful school leader.

An essential whole school resource

Leading Improvement analyses obstacles to change; describes how successful schools have tackled the problem of change; and provides copiable study materials that help to unlock resistant cultures and deal with obstacles. The pack is designed to help transform schools, improving quality, efficiency and results. Leaders are prompted to reflect on key issues and develop strategies to:

• increase leadership effectiveness
• increase organisational effectiveness
• enhance staff and student motivation
• review career progress and plan the future
• embed visions of change
• improve development planning techniques
• design better staff structures and job descriptions
• free up curriculum thinking
• deal with low and poor performance.

Practical solutions

Each section deals with one of the major obstacles and includes:

• a case study explaining how change was frustrated or derailed
• clarification of the wider issues involved
• advice on how to resolve similar problems in your school
• staff development activities that can be used:
  • for discussion and to stimulate reflection and analysis
  • as a source of models and examples
  • with individuals and groups.

Leading Improvement supports:

• individual, guided self-study
• small group discussion to stimulate new thinking or improved solutions to problems (eg tackling low or poor performance)
• school-based workshops on the management of change.

Note that this product also forms part of Developing Your Staff 2: Working with Staff.

Contents

• Introduction
• Complacent cultures
• Inadequate support
• Cloudy or top-down visions
• Failures of communication
• Obstacles not tackled
• No short-term benefits
• Celebrating success too soon
• Changes not institutionalised
• Bibliography
• Index to masters