The role of leadership in establishing a positive staff culture in a secondary school. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morris, Julia E; Lummis, Geoffrey W; Lock, Graeme; Ferguson, Cath; Hill, Susan; Nykiel, Annette
• Is Part Of: Educational management administration & leadership. Volume 48:Number 5(2020)
• Page Start: 802
• Page End: 820
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: School culture -- leadership -- teacher wellbeing -- participatory action research; 371.207
• DOI: 10.1177/1741143219864937
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-1432

Abstract

This Australian case study explored the implementation of strategies to support the development of a positive school culture among whole school staff. A participatory action research approach was used to involve leadership staff in the development of a mixed method assessment of the school organisation. Baseline data from the School Organisational Health Questionnaire ( n = 28) and qualitative data from focus groups ( n = 15) were collected and presented to the leadership team who identified four foci for the study: appraisal and recognition, participative decision-making, professional growth and supportive leadership. After a range of interventions, findings from both post-test surveys ( n = 22) and qualitative data ( n = 30) suggested a change in leadership style was a key factor of school cultural change across all factors. The case study highlights a number of visible strategies that were employed to increase morale and improve staff wellbeing.