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School climate and leadership: research into three secondary schools

Steve Dinham (Faculty of Education, University of Western Sydney, Australia)
Trevor Cairney (Faculty of Education, University of Western Sydney, Australia)
Doug Craigie (Faculty of Education, University of Western Sydney, Australia)
Steve Wilson (Faculty of Education, University of Western Sydney, Australia)

Journal of Educational Administration

ISSN: 0957-8234

Article publication date: 1 October 1995

2850

Abstract

Draws on the findings of a major research project funded by the New South Wales Department of School Education in Australia which sought to examine the school‐community interface and communication in government comprehensive high schools in that state. Data were drawn initially from nine schools in Western Sydney with three of these schools being the subject of in‐depth follow‐up study. These studies revealed the significant role played by senior school executives, particularly the principal, in the development of communication methods in schools and their influence on school culture and climate. Examines decision making and communication methods in the three schools within the context of each school′s environment and draws implications for school leadership, staff morale, and staff, student and community attitudes. A key finding is that there is no “recipe” for success as a principal. Rather, a contingency approach is advocated whereby individual principals adopt a personal position across a range of important considerations, these positions being dependent on contextual and personal factors. The case studies suggest what these positions could be.

Keywords

Citation

Dinham, S., Cairney, T., Craigie, D. and Wilson, S. (1995), "School climate and leadership: research into three secondary schools", Journal of Educational Administration, Vol. 33 No. 4, pp. 36-58. https://doi.org/10.1108/09578239510092505

Publisher

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MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 1995, MCB UP Limited

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