Leading for Organizational Health: Research & Resources for Elementary School Professional Culture

This resource is designed for aspiring and practicing school leaders, providing a research-led framework for building better organizational health in elementary school settings and for facilitating cohesive professional cultures. The original research has been published in the International Journal for Leadership in Education (2023).

The Organizational Health in the Primary School Project (2020-2023) was a collaboration by researchers from the University of Exeter and headteachers from the Tarka Learning Partnership and Devon Schools Leadership Service.

The study involved a systematic review of the research literature and interviews with ten experienced headteachers (6M, 4F) selected for their record of school turnaround, mentoring responsibilities for new headteachers, and ability to form effective professional cultures within their schools.

The slide packs provide two sets of findings corresponding with the two research questions that drove the project. Scaffolds capturing the headteachers’ accumulated knowledge of school environments, and the practical steps taken as a result, are provided. Throughout the resource, links can be clicked to provide further detail and clarity. A reflection framework has also been designed based on the findings.
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