The International Successful School Principalship Project: success sustained?

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the findings of the follow‐up studies of successful school principals in six countries – Australia, Denmark, England, Norway, Sweden, and the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were categorized according to stakeholder expectations, the concept and practice of leadership, and the sustainability of leadership.

Findings

The synthesis revealed that several similar factors contribute to sustained successful leadership, although there were also differences that appeared to be associated with two groupings of countries – Australia, England and the USA on the one hand, and the Nordic countries, on the other.

Originality/value

The paper brings together data gathered from the same schools five years apart and facilitates a better understanding of the sustainability of successful school leadership.

Citation

Moos, L. and Johansson, O. (2009), "The International Successful School Principalship Project: success sustained?", Journal of Educational Administration, Vol. 47 No. 6, pp. 765-780. https://doi.org/10.1108/09578230910993140