Pauline V Smith - Böcker

`The book has a wide appeal to existing heads, aspiring heads, lecturers and writers about headship. The contributors to this book have lifted the curtain on the realities of headships and, in the process, have added to our understanding of what school leadership is all about these days' - Managing Schools Today

Practitioners and trainers understand how vitally important school leadership is to the practice of headship. Living Headship presents the experiences of successful heads working in primary and secondary schools. We hear in their accounts the authentic voices of heads determined to ensure that their leadership enhances the performance of their schools. Some have been in post for many years, and have been able to implement and sustain and reconsider their vision. Others have moved into schools with difficulties and brought them out of special measures. All demonstrate a profound commitment to the education of children and a determination to find ways to take their schools forward. Many of the chapters are underpinned by research, and all are based on a rigorous consideration of particular issues.

To set these analyses in context, the editors present an essential, in-depth history of the conceptualization of headship. The deep commitment to learning and the challenge presented here, make this book essential reading for practitioners, trainers and all concerned about the future of education.

`The book has a wide appeal to existing heads, aspiring heads, lecturers and writers about headship. The contributors to this book have lifted the curtain on the realities of headships and, in the process, have added to our understanding of what school leadership is all about these days' - Managing Schools Today

Practitioners and trainers understand how vitally important school leadership is to the practice of headship. Living Headship presents the experiences of successful heads working in primary and secondary schools. We hear in their accounts the authentic voices of heads determined to ensure that their leadership enhances the performance of their schools. Some have been in post for many years, and have been able to implement and sustain and reconsider their vision. Others have moved into schools with difficulties and brought them out of special measures. All demonstrate a profound commitment to the education of children and a determination to find ways to take their schools forward. Many of the chapters are underpinned by research, and all are based on a rigorous consideration of particular issues.

To set these analyses in context, the editors present an essential, in-depth history of the conceptualization of headship. The deep commitment to learning and the challenge presented here, make this book essential reading for practitioners, trainers and all concerned about the future of education.

`This book makes an important contribution to the debate on how school and individual performance may be enhanced. It would be of value to any teachers, education manager or academic who is interested in the issues of improvement in school performance'- Scottish Educational Review

`....there is much to commend this book. The diagrams are very clear and `lift' the text so that creative thought, rather than mere comprehension, becomes possible' - Nurturing Potential

Managing the performance of staff has become a key concern in education. It is a controversial area with a number of approaches based on very different assumptions. This book provides an overview of some of the key issues in developing professional performance and examines critically some of the strategies that can be used to enhance it.

- The first section of the book sets out the development of performance management.

- The second section deals with theoretical issues.

- The third section adopts a case study approach mapping out and critiquing a range of strategies that can be used to improve performance.

- Current issues such as work-based learning, performance related pay, the assessment of performance and the use of standards are examined.

Performance Management in Education is a valuable resource for practitioners, those involved in professional development, and academics in the field of school leadership and administration.