Collaborative school leadership

Key ideas about collaborative leadership

Effective leadership is vital for managing a change process in schools such as the W@S self-review. Leaders in high performing schools establish a clear vision and goals for their school and work to establish consensus about these goals among staff. They model desired behaviours and successfully establish clear and consistent social expectations and a safe and supportive environment for staff and students.

Effective leaders also work collaboratively through taking part in professional learning with staff and promoting collective responsibility for student achievement and wellbeing through mechanisms such as professional learning communities.

Key ideas about effective change processes

One of the most effective and collaborative ways of creating change in school approaches to health and wellbeing is through use of a whole school approach (WSA). WSAs have been successfully used to promote mental health, develop approaches to physical activity, improve students’ conflict resolution skills, and reduce bullying, violence, and aggression in schools. WSA have two main parts that underpin the W@S self-review tools and processes:

1. A way of thinking about schools as an inter-connected system.
2. A way of working collaboratively with staff, students, parents and whānau, and external education and health professionals.