Research Intelligence
Service

Issue 44, April 2008

Each month, this bulletin reviews recently published leadership research, policy and practical papers that we hope you will find relevant. Please note that this is not intended to be a comprehensive digest. The brief summaries aim to provide a taster for the full reports.

Social care professionals and extended schools
National Foundation for Educational Research, March 2008

This research considers how social care professionals are integrated within extended schools from the point of view of managers, practitioners and service users.

The researchers conclude that linking social care professionals and extended schools is a successful way of integrating services and an effective response to the ECM agenda.

Narrowing the gap for vulnerable groups
National Foundation for Educational Research, March 2008

This study reviews the best evidence on what works in narrowing the gap in outcomes for vulnerable groups across the five ECM areas.

Key messages include:

• strategies promoting children’s health, safety and economic stability all help to support effective and enjoyable learning and raise achievement
• interventions need a long-term focus
  
• interventions which adopt an holistic and joined-up approach dealing with the range of obstacles and negative influences holding children back are the most effective
  
• interventions that focus on the whole family and involve children learning and working with their parents/carers are some of the most effective

What we are learning about: leadership of Every Child Matters
NCSL, April 2008

This study explores how school leaders can develop and implement models of leadership that are effective in addressing the ECM agenda, that facilitate and sustain effective partnerships with other agencies, and that engender buy-in to the ECM agenda from staff as well as external services. This study offers six key messages about ECM and leadership.

Young people: leading change.
DCSF, March 2008

This DCSF report celebrates inspirational examples of young people acting to secure better services, campaigning for change, reaching out to the most vulnerable, and bringing people together to promote understanding and build stronger and more aspirational communities.

Authentic leadership
Center for Creative Leadership, Leading Effectively, April 2008

Adapted from Building an Authentic Leadership Image, this issue of CCL's online newsletter reveals why a leadership image matters, why you can’t fake it and how to hone your image in a way that makes you a more effective leader.

The future of education: research discussion day
Futurelab, 20 March 2008

Futurelab held a research discussion day to debate the future direction of education with others from the research, policy, practice and technology communities. The day featured a mix of current research findings as well as the latest thinking from the wider worlds of education and industry, and focused on three themes:

• Teachers and Innovations – supporting innovative educational practices
• Learning Spaces – thinking beyond the classroom
• Digital Inclusion – promoting educational equality using digital technologies

The future of leadership
NCSL, March 2008

This booklet sets out what some of the world’s leading thinkers have to say about leadership – past, present and into the future.

Women into headship
NCSL, March 2008

The number of women head teachers in England has grown by 7% over the last five years. Flexible working has played a major role in helping women reach the top, according to this research. Of the female heads taking part, 75% said an increase in flexible working practices had helped make the job more attractive, while 44% said a greater acceptance of childcare responsibilities had made a difference.

Yet while the proportion of women head teachers has risen, women are still under-represented. The study found that 87% of primary school teachers are women but only 67% of heads are women and in secondary schools 57% of teachers are women, but only 36% of heads.

14-19 Learning Pathways in Wales
Estyn, March 2008

This report shows what is working well and what remains to be done to meet the aims and objectives of the Welsh 14-19 Learning Pathways initiative.

On leadership, the report concludes that not only is the best work conducted in networks with effective leaders, managers and coordinators, but also that it depends on how well the work fits in with the broader interests and developments in the local context. It shows that successful networks are linked into key strategic bodies that have influence over funding.