Andrew Wilkins (Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK) and Brad Gobby (Curtin University, Australia)
What is the problem? How does the chapter support your thinking about the problem?
The key issue for this chapter is the relationship between educational leadership and governance. The chapter argues for the application and value of governance to the study of educational leadership as a way to better understand how educational leadership is tied to the enactment of political and economic projects and possibilities. Viewing the practices of educational leadership as ‘governance-in-practice’, we introduce and apply two distinctive formulations of governance: ‘instrumental-rational’ and ‘agonistic-political’. In so doing, we illustrate using case study material from England and Australia how the analytical application of governance can enrich our understanding of the wider politics and implications of educational leadership.
What are other ways to think about this? Where can I go next to follow these up?
Social theories and governance issues
The operation of governance in education can be studied using many theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches. Using different approaches to the study of governance, the following edited book provides rich insights into the complex issues and changes occurring in education across the globe.
Wilkins, Andrew and Olmedo, Antonio, eds. (2018). Education Governance and Social Theory: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Research. London: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9781350040083
Governance across national contexts
Across the globe New Public Management (NPM) has re-organised public sector organisations, including the field of school governance. This paper uses a specific approach to governance to compare the enactments and effects of NPM in Australia, England, Spain and Switzerland. It offers insights into the uneven, differential and contingent take up of policy trends in different contexts.
Wilkins, Andrew; Collet-Sabé, Jordi; Gobby, Brad and Hangartner, Judith. (2019). Translations of New Public Management: A decentred approach to school governance in four OECD countries. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 17(2), pp. 147-160.
Governance beyond education
Notions of governance have been shifting. This book examines different uses of and approaches to understanding governance. It warns against their often descriptive and normative orientations, and their implications for democracy.
Bevir, M. (2010). Democratic Governance. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
Critical perspectives and approaches to leadership
The contemporary governance of many school systems implicate school leaders into managerial roles focused on narrow measure of performance and accountability. This can be countered by adopting critical approaches to educational leadership.
Chapter 15. Educational reform and leading school change, by Jill Blackmore and Rachel McNae
Chapter 21. Performativity, Managerialism and educational leadership, by Tanya Fitzgerald and Dave Hall
