Although this list was drawn up with particular reference to schools in difficult circumstances, they appear to readily translate into different contexts. What is particularly heartening is that there is also considerable overlap with qualities of leadership identified by one of England’s most respected school principals.
Sir David Carter is chief executive of the Cabot Learning Federation, a group of 11 schools based in and around Bristol. Many of the schools joined the federation after they were identified as in need of improvement, and Sir David was knighted earlier this year for services to education.
When I interviewed him last month for an article on superheads – principals skilled in turning around struggling schools – he spoke about the need to work relentlessly on behalf of pupils (3), having a clear and consistent vision (1) and working closely with the community the school serves (7).
He also adds other qualities, some perhaps implicit in the IoE list, but all crucial to the successful school leadership. Among these was the ability to balance strategic and operational roles, and the ability to manage change and understand how it works.
Another is talent spotting. Sir David invests a huge amount of time in making the right appointments and in getting people in the right roles.
Effective principals also need to have a high level of emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills. Often, the power of school leaders is vested in their capacity to persuade and influence, rather than to direct. “You have to take people with you, you can’t be bullish,” Sir David says. “You have got to build collaboration and get people to work together.”
Finally, Sir David identifies a sense of moral purpose. While this may be of most significance in disadvantaged areas, the desire to get the best for all children is something every principal should possess. “I don’t know many who don’t have that,” Sir David adds.
Of course, every school leader will have a different list. Many will echo these characteristics, many will emphasise different aspects and some will add their own characteristics. But this list – plus Sir David’s additions – seems to offer a set of core qualities.
The next question – and one to which I hope to return in a future article – is whether it is reasonable to expect to find them all in one person, and whether the increasingly onerous requirements of the job are off-putting for people who are eminently suitable to lead our schools.