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Distributed Leadership and Its Impact on Teaching and Learning

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Distributed Leadership and Its Impact on Teaching and Learning View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by MURAL - Maynooth University Research Archive Library DISTRIBUTED LEADERSHIP AND ITS IMPACT ON TEACHING AND LEARNING Eilis Humphreys Education Doctorate NUI Maynooth Faculty of Social Sciences Education Department Head of Department: Dr Aidan Mulkeen Department of Adult and Community Education Head of Department: Professor Anne Ryan Supervisor: Dr. Padraig Hogan May 2010 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... iv Summary ........................................................................................................................................ v Chapter One Distributed Leadership and its Impact on Teaching and Learning in Post-primary Schools ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Research Questions ...................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Contextual Factors ....................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Structure of the thesis ................................................................................................. 10 1.4 Expected outcomes of the thesis ................................................................................ 12 Chapter Two An Exploration of Distributed Leadership: Literature Review. ............................................ 13 2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 13 2.1. Distributed leadership ............................................................................................... 14 2.2 Distributed leadership and quality learning ............................................................... 28 2.3 Distributed leadership and the principal’s role in leading learning. .......................... 33 2.4 Distributed leadership: A Theoretical Framework ..................................................... 37 2.5 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 38 Chapter Three Research Methodology................................................................................................................ 39 3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 39 3.1 The Author’s Perspective and Epistemological Stance ............................................. 39 3.2 Ethical Issues .............................................................................................................. 43 3.3 The Research Design.................................................................................................. 43 3.4 Preliminary Investigation ........................................................................................... 47 3.5 Selecting the schools .................................................................................................. 49 3.6 Carrying out the research ........................................................................................... 52 3.7 Summary .................................................................................................................... 55 Chapter Four Setting the Agenda for the Focus Groups ................................................................................. 56 4.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 56 4.1 Perceptions of Distributed Leadership ....................................................................... 57 4.2 Perceptions of Distributed Leadership Practices........................................................ 58 4.3 Variation across schools ............................................................................................. 59 4.4 Perceived differences between perceptions and practices ......................................... 60 4.5 Open question: Understanding of shared/distributed leadership ............................... 61 4.6 Conclusion: key themes and some professional assertions ........................................ 65 Chapter Five Results and Analysis of Focus Group Discussions: perceptions of distributed leadership ..................................................................................................................................... 69 5.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 69 5.1 Participants’ Understanding of Distributed Leadership ............................................. 71 5.2 Distributed leadership – top down or bottom up? Developing distributed leadership79 5.3 Leadership role of post-holders .................................................................................. 85 5.4 Summary .................................................................................................................... 91 Chapter Six Linking Distributed Leadership with Learning ....................................................................... 95 6.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 95 6.1 The post of responsibility structure and its influence on teaching and learning ........ 96 6.2 Teachers’ leadership practices that influence teaching and learning ....................... 102 6.3 Summary .................................................................................................................. 118 Chapter Seven Distributed Leadership and the Principal’s Role in Leading Learning............................... 121 7.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 121 7.1 The educational role of the principal and deputy ..................................................... 121 7.2 Key practices that influence learning ....................................................................... 123 7.3 Challenges for principals and deputy principals ...................................................... 130 ii 7.4 Summary .................................................................................................................. 132 Chapter Eight Conclusions and Recommendations ........................................................................................ 135 8.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 135 8.1 Distributed leadership and its impact on teaching and learning .............................. 136 8.2 Additional themes and limitations of the study........................................................ 149 8.3 Using the research .................................................................................................... 153 8.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 154 Bibliography .............................................................................................................................. 155 Appendix 1 Leadership Development for Schools ................................................................. 164 Appendix 2 The Post of Responsibility Structure in Irish Post Primary Schools ............... 165 Appendix 3(a) Preliminary Investigation Report .................................................................. 166 Appendix 3(b) Preliminary Investigation Questions ............................................................. 169 Appendix 4 School Profiles – Posts of Responsibility ............................................................ 171 Appendix 5 LDS School Projects ............................................................................................. 175 Appendix 6 Distributed Leadership Questionnaire ............................................................... 181 Appendix 7 Questions for teachers’ focus groups .................................................................. 186 Appendix 8 Letters of invitation and consent ......................................................................... 189 Appendix 9 Questionnaire Results .......................................................................................... 194 Appendix 10 Abbreviations ..................................................................................................... 204 iii Acknowledgements I wish to thank my supervisor, Dr. Pádraig Hogan for his insight, expertise and guidance. His probing questions and detailed comments were very helpful in clarifying my thoughts and in helping to shape this thesis. To my Ed. D. tutors, colleagues and friends in NUI Maynooth Education Department – our very stimulating educational dialogue over the past four years was not only enjoyable but extremely valuable. Thank you. I would also like to thank my colleagues on the Leadership Development for Schools team who offered support and encouragement throughout. I wish to extend a special word of thanks to the principal and staff of each of the schools involved in
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