Learning to Lead in the Secondary School – Becoming an Effective Head of Department

Citation

Davies, B. (2005), "Learning to Lead in the Secondary School – Becoming an Effective Head of Department", International Journal of Educational Management, Vol. 19 No. 3, pp. 268-269. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513540510591057

This is an excellent edited collection of key ideas and strategies for those undertaking leadership roles in secondary schools. The book is organised into five main sections. Section one deals with the roles, values and accountability dimensions of becoming a subject leader. The first chapter by Mark Brundrett provides an insightful overview. Section two, which focuses on leading effective teaching and learning, provides essential guidance on moving from being a teacher to being a teacher who organises others in appropriate learning and teaching approaches. Particularly useful here is the chapter by Powell and Terrell on “models of teaching and learning”.

Section three is a very strong section of four chapters. It deals with one of the critical issues for heads of departments, that of leading and managing other staff. All the chapters are well structured and written. The section deals with building the “learning department” by using all staff skills and that can be supported by the head of department. The fourth section on leading, planning, performance and the use of information communication technology (ICT) is a useful collection with a particularly helpful chapter on “value‐added”. The fifth section is probably not as strong as the others with two chapters on finance and budgets taking a macro view and providing little help for practitioners with managing department budgets.

The final section on “managing your own performance” is both excellent and excellently placed in the book. It provides a timely reminder of the need for continual personal reflection and development. Overall the edition provides an extremely valuable resource for middle managers and leaders in secondary schools.