Extreme Headship: A Case Study in Educational Leadership and School Improvement

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Extreme Headship: A Case Study in Educational Leadership and School Improvement
In 1993 Phil McNulty took over the Headship of Shorefields Community Comprehensive School, the County Secondary School for Toxteth, Liverpool.
The organisation was in the direst of circumstances.
The school had a falling roll, poor exam results, completely dilapidated buildings, financial problems and the worst case of governor abuse of their new powers in the country.
The catchment area included some of the most deprived areas in Western Europe. There was little support from the LEA, opposition from other schools, problems with staff, daily intrusions, nightly break-ins and racially divided warring gangs on the streets.
This book describes how he moved the school from an intake of 45 to 210, from the brink of closure to oversubscription and, on the way, attracted sponsorship, national recognition, huge technological investment and the capability to refurbish or rebuild the entire school.
Phil McNulty has advised Her Majesty's Inspectorate and the Prime Minister as the head of a school succeeding in challenging circumstances.
He has presented the management problem of 'turning around' a failing school to groups of businessmen and women through the national Common Purpose programme.
His case study Extreme Headship is of relevance and importance to all those in leadership and senior management positions inside and outside of education. It is written chronologically to highlight an incremental approach to problem solving. Significant leadership issues are emphasised in the text for ease of reference. A summary of the strategies employed in tackling the key organisationalproblems is provided at the end of each section.