Personal capacity: an exploration into the extent to which the personal capacity of school leaders influences their response to challenges that occur in the changing educational landscape

[摘要] The educational arena has been undergoing unprecedented changes regarding government policy and reforms. These changes have posed significant challenges for school leaders, chiefly, intensification of accountability structures and the decision-making process in schools, as well as increased pressure to work at a relentless pace. The resulting attrition of headteachers and the reluctance of senior leaders to fill the vacancies, burgeoned into a recruitment crisis, raising questions concerning the capacity of school leaders to cope. This study attempts to arrive at a definition of personal capacity as it relates to educational leaders particularly, to determine its impact on their ability to cope and to ascertain its role in their career trajectory. The research which was phenomenological in nature used a self-completed questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to obtain data from a sample of nineteen school leaders. An analysis of the findings yielded a definition of personal capacity, essentially, the ability of individuals to adapt and respond to challenges. Such ability was multifaceted, comprising a dynamic combination of non-discrete components underpinned by key qualities and characteristics, specifically, moral imperative, resilience, self-efficacy, confidence, emotional intelligence, and empowerment, altogether driven by a growth mindset. Personal capacity featured significantly at every stage of the trajectory of school leaders and therefore warrants considerable attention in talent identification and development.

[发布机构] University:University of Birmingham;Department:School of Education

[关键词] L Education;LB Theory and practice of education