Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Leadership for the Attainment of Improved School Outcomes: A Brazilian, Australian and Maltese Study

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Cultures of Educational Leadership

Part of the book series: Intercultural Studies in Education ((ISE))

  • 1561 Accesses

Abstract

School leaders are continually looking for the links between theory and practice that lead to a culture of leadership and learning that ensures school practices are aligned and focused on attaining quality outcomes for all students. In this cross-culture study the intent is not to generalise but to provide insights into the role that leaders play in the alignment of multiple dimensions of practice. The Research Based Framework for School Alignment (RBF) is used to view practices within a number of case-study secondary schools in Australia, Brazil and Malta. Each country has a standardised national testing regime and a number of compulsory years of schooling with a curriculum based on core subjects and competencies in reading, mathematics and science. These diverse contexts provide insights into the role and impact of the school leader in aligning multiple dimensions to create a vibrant learning community. Findings highlight the analytical possibilities of the Research Based Framework as a tool for viewing current school practices providing insights into both the strengths and challenges that all principals face in their pursuit for improved results.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2014). Commentary on student numbers. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4221.0. Accessed 11 December 2015.

  • Biggs, J., & Collis, K. (1989). Towards a model of school-based curriculum development and assessment using the SOLO taxonomy. Australian Journal of Education, 33(2), 151–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke, K. (2009). How to assess authentic learning. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clandinin, D. J., & Connelly, M. (1995). Teachers’ professional landscapes. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowther, F., & Associates. (2011). From school improvement to sustained capacity: the parallel leadership pathway. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin (Sage).

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowther, F., Kaagan, S., Ferguson, M., & Hann, L. (2002). Developing teacher leaders: how teacher leadership enhances school success. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.) (2005). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research (3rd edn). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drucker, P. F. (1946). Concept of the organization (revised edn). New York, NY: John Day.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodson, I., Knobel, M., Lankshear, C., & Marshall Mangan, J. (2002). Spaces/social spaces. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gurr, D., Drysdale, L., & Mulford, B. (2006). Models of successful principal leadership. School Leadership and Management, 26(4), 371–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, A. (2004). Teacher leadership and distributed leadership. Leading & Managing, 10(2), 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hattie, J., & Yates, G. (2013). Visible learning and the science of how we learn. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, G. (2002). Towards a learning community. Professional Development Today, Spring: 7–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hord, S., & Sommers, W. (2008). Leading professional learning communities: voices from research and practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, M. B., & Newman, F. M. (2001). Building school capacity through professional development: conceptual and empirical considerations. The International Journal of Educational Management, 15(2), 86–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs. (2008). Melbourne declaration on educational goals for young Australians. http://www.curriculum.edu.au/verve/_resources/National_Declaration_on_the_Educational_Goals_for_Young_Australians.pdf. Accessed 11 January 2016.

  • Ministry of Education Employment and the Family. (2011). Towards a quality education for all: the national curriculum framework 2011. Floriana: Ministry of Education, Employment and the Family.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education. (2014). Planejando a Próxima Década: Conhecendo as 20 metas do Plano Nacional de Educação. http://pne.mec.gov.br/images/pdf/pne_conhecendo_20_metas.pdf. Accessed 19 November 2015.

  • Moreira, A. M. A., & Aires, C. J. (2015). A avaliação do Pacto Nacional pelo Fortalecimento do Ensino Médio na percepção de gestores escolares do Distrito Federal. Lisboa, Brasil: EDUCA/Secção Portuguesa da AFIRSE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noor, K. B. (2008). Case study: a strategic research methodology. American Journal of Applied Sciences, 5(11), 1602–1604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OECD. (2013). PISA 2012 results: excellence through equity. http://www.oecd.org/pisa/keyfindings/pisa-2012-results-volume-II.pdf. Accessed 9 November 2015.

  • Patton, M. Q. (2001). Qualitative evaluation and research methods (2nd edn). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, D. (2009). Leading change in your school. Alexandria, Virginia: ASCD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schein, E. H. (1992). Organizational culture and leadership (2nd edn). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, B., Godfrey, E., Hayes, S., Huang, M., Lim, B., Nishii, L., et al. (2003). The human side of strategy: employee experiences of strategic alignment in a service organization. Organizational Dynamics, 32(2), 122–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sirotnik, K. A., & Clark, R. W. (1988). School-centred decision making and renewal. Phi Delta Kappan, 69(9), 660–664.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spillane, J. (2012). Distributed leadership. San Francisco, CA: Josey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torrance, D., & Humes, W. (2015). The shifting discourses of educational leadership: international trends and Scotland’s response. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 43(5), 792–810.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, S., De Bortoli, L., & Buckley, S. (2014). The PISA 2012 assessment of students’ mathematical, scientific and reading literacy. Victoria, Australia: Australian Council for Educational Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volpi, M., Silva, M. S., & Ribeiro, J. (Eds.) (2014). 10 desafios do ensino médio no Brasil: Para garantir o direito de aprender de adolescents de 15 a 17 anos. Brasília, DF: UNICEF.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wineburg, S. (2001). Historical thinking and other unnatural acts. Philadelphia: Temple University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin, R. (1993). Application of case study research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin, R. (2014). Case study research: Design and methods (5th edn). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia

    Lindy-Anne Abawi

  2. University of Brasilia, Brasília, Brazil

    Ana Maria de Albuquerque Moreira

  3. University of Malta, Msida, Malta

    Christopher Bezzina

Authors
  1. Lindy-Anne Abawi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ana Maria de Albuquerque Moreira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Christopher Bezzina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lindy-Anne Abawi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Edu. & Profnl. Development, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom

    Paul Miller

Copyright information

© 2017 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Abawi, LA., de Albuquerque Moreira, A.M., Bezzina, C. (2017). Leadership for the Attainment of Improved School Outcomes: A Brazilian, Australian and Maltese Study. In: Miller, P. (eds) Cultures of Educational Leadership. Intercultural Studies in Education. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58567-7_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58567-7_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-58566-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-58567-7

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation