Issues of social justice and fairness in the development of aspiring headteachers: I hadn’t really thought about my values before…

Forde, C. (2013) Issues of social justice and fairness in the development of aspiring headteachers: I hadn’t really thought about my values before…. In: Bogotoch, I. and Shields, C. (eds.) International Handbook of Educational Leadership and Social (In)Justice. Springer: New York. ISBN 9789400765542

Abstract

This chapter argues for a clearer focus on social justice and education in leadership development programmes. The first part of the chapter traces the way in the articulation of ‘values’ in Scottish education have evolved from the early 1990s to the present day. The chapter then considers the implications of these public articulations of values for the development of aspirant headteachers (school principals). The Scottish Qualification for Headship (SQH) is used as an example of a leadership development programme to explore ways in which the concepts of equality, fairness and social justice can be embedded as core elements in the shaping of leadership practice. The chapter then goes on to consider the construction of leadership underpinning headship preparation programmes. The chapter ends by proposing ways in which discourses around ‘leadership and effective learning’ can be imbued with the grit of ‘social justice’ to seek ways to ensure equality and fairness in both the experiences of all young people in school and the outcomes they achieve. In this respect the chapter ends by proposing that the ‘theory-in-use’ of aspirant school leaders can help illuminate the contextualisation of the ideas of social justice, equality and fairness within educational settings.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Keywords: Leadership development and social justice, headship preparation and social justice
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Forde, Prof Christine
• Authors: Forde, C.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Professional Learning and Leadership
• Research Group: Professional Learning and Leadership
• Publisher: Springer
• ISBN: 9789400765542