Ethical leadership in a time of increasing accountability

Ehrich, L., Harris, J., Klenowski, V., Smeed, J. and Ainscow, M. (2015) Ethical leadership in a time of increasing accountability. Leading and Managing, 21(1), pp. 22-35.

Abstract

Australia, like many other countries, has embraced national testing as part of wider reforms and increased accountability in schooling. Results for standardised testing programs, such as NAPLAN, are widely published yet form only one part of accountability for educators. We argue that accountability also has moral, ethical and professional dimensions. <br /><br /> In this article we offer a discussion of background to our study of ethical leadership in a time of data driven or contractual accountability. Based on Starratt's (1996) model, we define ethical leadership as a social, relational practice concerned with the moral purpose of education (Angus, 2006). Our central thesis is that given increasing accountabilities, school leaders need to consider approaches to ethical leadership to improve quality and equity in education and achieve equitable outcomes for all students. The article concludes with key implications for school leaders.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ainscow, Professor Mel
• Authors: Ehrich, L., Harris, J., Klenowski, V., Smeed, J., and Ainscow, M.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Journal Name: Leading and Managing
• Publisher: The Australian Council for Educational Leaders
• ISSN: 1329-4539

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