Degrees of distribution: Towards an understanding of variations in the nature of distributed leadership in schools

Ritchie, Ron; Woods, Philip A.

Abstract

The research reported on in this article explores how degrees of leadership distribution in schools might be differentiated. Data were collected from ten schools - eight primary and two secondary schools - / which were identified as exhibiting 'good practice' with regard to distributed leadership. The conceptual distinctions suggested by the study are discussed and the possible 'causes' and consequences of school variations in the degree of distributed leadership considered.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2007
• Journal: School Leadership and Management
• Print ISSN: 1363-2434
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 363-381
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13632430701563130
• Keywords: distributed leadership, schools
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1025787
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13632430701563130
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This output reports Ritchie's research into distributed leadership (funded by the NCSL) which draws on case studies from across seven local authorities and builds on a previous joint-authored book in the area of leadership (Bell and Ritchie, 1999). It offers an unusual insight into the degree of embededness of distributed leadership in primary schools in the context of new policy developments. The work has also been disseminated regionally and nationally (through invited keynotes and conference papers) and internationally through the British Council-sponsored Oxford Leadership Series (2006) (involving a keynote on DVD and supporting paper), used at leadership seminars throughout the Middle East and, to date, through leadership programmes in Uganda, Latvia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Ritchie was responsible for 66% of this item.