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An Applied Approach to Transformational Leadership for Whole School Communities: Perspectives of Primary School and System Leaders

Author

Listed:
  • Inez Wilson Heenan

    (School of Education, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland)

  • Niamh Lafferty

    (School of Education, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland)

  • Patricia Mannix McNamara

    (School of Education, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
    Faculty of Education, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Inndalsveien, 28, 5063 Bergen, Norway)

Abstract

This paper examines the vision, strategy and leadership support structures for Irish primary schools where leadership is specifically referenced, with focus on links to transformational and distributed school leadership. Of particular interest is how transformational and distributed leadership models could aid effective and sustainable leadership enactment in times of exceptional change. This article offers new insights into primary school and system leaders’ perceptions of transformational school leadership and the factors that facilitate and/or inhibit transformational school leadership for the whole school community with a qualitative study. The overarching research question comprised: what are the perceptions of primary school and system leaders relating to the facilitating and inhibiting factors affecting the implementation of transformational school leadership, and is this model perceived to build relations with parents and the wider school community? The data highlight several factors that transcend both transformational and distributed leadership and, with previous research by these authors, inform the construction of a synthesised model of transformational and distributed school leadership for the whole school community aligned with the most recent Irish primary school policy document—‘Looking at Our School 2022: A Quality Framework for Primary Schools and Special Schools (LAOS)’. The authors also accompany this model with a roadmap that may support approaches to school leadership practice for the whole school community, at the primary and post-primary levels, in Ireland.

Suggested Citation

  • Inez Wilson Heenan & Niamh Lafferty & Patricia Mannix McNamara, 2024. "An Applied Approach to Transformational Leadership for Whole School Communities: Perspectives of Primary School and System Leaders," Societies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-44, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:14:y:2024:i:12:p:275-:d:1550517
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David Byrne, 2022. "A worked example of Braun and Clarke’s approach to reflexive thematic analysis," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1391-1412, June.
    2. Arthur G. Jago, 1982. "Leadership: Perspectives in Theory and Research," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(3), pages 315-336, March.
    3. Inez Wilson Heenan & Derbhile De Paor & Niamh Lafferty & Patricia Mannix McNamara, 2023. "The Impact of Transformational School Leadership on School Staff and School Culture in Primary Schools—A Systematic Review of International Literature," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-27, May.
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