Distributed LeadershipDistributed Leadership

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

What is What is distributed distributed leadership?leadership?

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Co-leadershipCo-leadership

Shared leadershipShared leadership

Teacher leadershipTeacher leadership

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

MobilisingMobilisingleadership at leadership at every levelevery level

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

"Engaging the many – so there is a greater skill set, energy potential, shared responsibility and will to improve.” (Spillane et al, 2001)

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

How important is distributed How important is distributed leadership for schools?leadership for schools?

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

How important is distributed How important is distributed leadership for schools?leadership for schools?

"School leadership has a greater influence on schools and students

when it is widely distributed"(Leithwood et al, 2008)

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

How important is distributed How important is distributed leadership for schools?leadership for schools?

“Sustainability is the ultimate goal for leadership in a complex, knowledge-sharing society." (Hargreaves & Fink, 2006)

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

The Key The Key ElementsElements

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

A Clear VisionA Clear Vision

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

PositivePositiveRelationshipsRelationships

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

CollaborationCollaboration

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Emphasis OnEmphasis OnPeople RatherPeople RatherThan SystemsThan Systems

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

““Consider how much smarter a school Consider how much smarter a school could become if it was able to identify could become if it was able to identify and share the collective experience and and share the collective experience and learning of all its teachers?” learning of all its teachers?” (Little, 1999)(Little, 1999)

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

ICT

Enquiry-based learning

AfL

Metacognition

Enterprise

Planning

SSE

Assessment

No one is an expertNo one is an expertat everything!at everything!

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

What Does It What Does It Look Like In Look Like In

Practice?Practice?

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Teachers sharing best practice through dropping into colleagues’ lessons; systems of appreciative enquiry well embedded

Peer observations as part of PM systems; dialogue centred on learning

Team teaching as a key tool in staff development

Real involvement in decision making – working parties, sub-groups

Learning walks and learning talks integral to School Evaluation Systems

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Research Study

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Conducted in April 2012

Comparison of perception and practice

Understanding of distributed leadership

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Link between student learning and Link between student learning and teacher collaborationteacher collaboration

Importance of staff sharing ideas about Importance of staff sharing ideas about learning & teachinglearning & teaching

Importance of planning/reviewing with Importance of planning/reviewing with colleaguescolleagues

Importance of sharing PD with teamsImportance of sharing PD with teams

Questions probed views on:Questions probed views on:

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

All teachers are leaders in their All teachers are leaders in their own classrooms.own classrooms.

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

All teachers are leaders in their All teachers are leaders in their own classrooms.own classrooms.

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

"Everyone in JESS is a leader in a unique "Everyone in JESS is a leader in a unique way and takes responsibility for different way and takes responsibility for different

areas. Everyone's opinion is valued."areas. Everyone's opinion is valued."

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Teachers should be given Teachers should be given opportunities to exercise leadership opportunities to exercise leadership

beyond their classroom.beyond their classroom.

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Teachers should be given Teachers should be given opportunities to exercise leadership opportunities to exercise leadership

beyond their classroom.beyond their classroom.

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

"Everyone gets the opportunity to grow "Everyone gets the opportunity to grow and be part of the decisions that are and be part of the decisions that are

made in school. All teachers are valued."made in school. All teachers are valued."

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

"Different staff have different areas of "Different staff have different areas of expertise so it makes a huge difference to expertise so it makes a huge difference to

us when they share it."us when they share it."

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Teachers have more direct influence Teachers have more direct influence on student learning than the principal.on student learning than the principal.

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Teachers have more direct influence Teachers have more direct influence on student learning than the principal.on student learning than the principal.

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

"Our role impacts learning in every way, "Our role impacts learning in every way, from planning, assessment, assessment from planning, assessment, assessment

analysis to communicating with team analysis to communicating with team members, parents and children about members, parents and children about

their learning journey "their learning journey "

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Senior management listens to Senior management listens to teachers' voicesteachers' voices

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Senior management listens to Senior management listens to teachers' voicesteachers' voices

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

"I feel that my views are listened to by the "I feel that my views are listened to by the management team and I am given the management team and I am given the freedom to explore new opportunities freedom to explore new opportunities

that may benefit the school."that may benefit the school."

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

ConclusionsConclusions

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Positive stance on Distributed Leadership

Understanding the need for collegiality

Teachers having a voice of major importance

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

ActionsActions

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

L&T working party set up to L&T working party set up to review L&T policyreview L&T policy

Timetabled opportunities for Timetabled opportunities for regular learning walks and regular learning walks and talkstalks

Leadership more widely Leadership more widely distributed to include studentsdistributed to include students

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Engaging Engaging students as students as

leadersleaders

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Student CouncilTech LeadersEco-WarriorsArt Leaders Line Leaders/ MonitorsCharity Committee Heritage Heroes

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Students Students teaching teaching TeachersTeachers

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

1 to 1 tech mentors1 to 1 tech mentorsDelivering tech professional developmentDelivering tech professional developmentPresenting at internal and DSIB linked trainingPresenting at internal and DSIB linked training

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

School management should ensure School management should ensure that the student voice is heard in the that the student voice is heard in the

decision making process of the school.decision making process of the school.

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

School management should ensure School management should ensure that the student voice is heard in the that the student voice is heard in the

decision making process of the school.decision making process of the school.

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Pupil Voice Pupil Voice MeetingsMeetings

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

STUDENTS GIVEN VOICE IN:STUDENTS GIVEN VOICE IN:

ArabicArabicCurriculum BalanceCurriculum BalanceUniform designUniform designSport/ Extra Curricular Sport/ Extra Curricular opportunitiesopportunitiesHomeworkHomework

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Students get an opportunity to make Students get an opportunity to make suggestions about their learningsuggestions about their learning

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Students get an opportunity to make Students get an opportunity to make suggestions about their learningsuggestions about their learning

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

To continuously improve and develop our organisations so that pupils’ experiences and learning opportunities nurture and develop skills and attitudes to equip them as lifelong learners

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Listen to teachers'voices

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Listen to pupils'voices

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Nurture talent, passion and expertise

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Develop energy and purpose that pulls others in

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Focus on building professional learning communities

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Value and facilitate dialogue

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Provide opportunities

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

Let go of the reins!

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

"The Best Leader Is The One Who Has Sense Enough

To Pick Good Men To Do What He Wants Done, And The Self-Restraint To Keep From Meddling With Them

While They Do It."

—Theodore Roosevelt, American President (1901 -

1909)

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

It Is Said Of A Good Leader That

When The Work Is Done, The Aim Fulfilled, The

People Will Say "We Did This Ourselves."

— Lao Tzu, Founder of Taoism

(Sixth Century B.C.)

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

SATISFACTORY

GOOD OUTSTANDING STANDINGOUT

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School

STANDINGOUT

Ruth Burke, Head Teacher Jumeirah English Speaking School