The module drew on material that became part of Dr Saunders’s first book, Educational Leadership and Integrative Worldview, in the study of educational leadership theory and practice, in dialogue with Tony Bush (2020), Theories of Educational Leadership and Management (5th edn), Sage.

Educational Leadership in Context enabled students to critically analyse multiple theoretical perspectives on educational leadership. It gave them a broad theoretical knowledge base from which to develop persuasive critical arguments that extended and challenged contemporary understanding of leadership practice. Students evaluated contemporary leadership theories and frameworks and their application to educational practice, with a particular focus on leadership’s role in advancing social justice and enacting change in national and international contexts.

Module code: PRL4046 · Credits: 30

The module integrated ideas that became part of Dr Saunders’s book Developing Supervisionary Leadership in Schools, in dialogue with Appreciative Inquiry; Sharon Kruse (2023), Mindful Educational Leadership: Contemplative, Cognitive, and Organizational Systems and Practices; and Khalid Arar and Izhar Oplatka (2022), Advanced Theories of Educational Leadership, Springer.

Leadership of Educational Change explored how leaders identify, initiate and implement positive change in educational settings. Students critically examined theories and models of change in the light of contemporary research. They challenged commonly held notions of what it means to lead change, and analysed practice in their own settings through ethical leadership, transformational leadership, followership and sustainability. The module also examined the drivers of individual behaviour and performance in building a motivated and productive team, and compared approaches to educational change for their implications for leadership practice.

Module code: PRL4047 · Credits: 30