Investigating the use of capability and standards - referenced frameworks to support the professional learning of aspiring, new and experienced school leaders in the public education system in New South Wales, Australia

Recruitment to positions of school leadership, the preparation of aspiring school leaders, support for the induction of newly appointed school leaders, and ensuring quality professional learning for experienced school leaders all require agreement and transparency on what it is that successful school leaders do.

This chapter outlines recent developments in the public education system in New South Wales, Australia, where research has led to the development of a School Leadership Capability Framework. The framework centers on the capabilities required for quality school leadership identified from analyses of the work of successful school leaders. Using the framework as a base, the chapter outlines how a leadership continuum is being developed in an integrated, tri-level approach to professional learning and program development involving schools, administrative regions and the state office.

A second dimension to the chapter is added by an outline of policies that are in place to enable distributive leadership to occur within and across schools through school planning, professional learning, and the introduction of a standards-referenced framework for teacher professional development.

The chapter identifies areas for further research that are being suggested from the implementation of these policy frameworks so as to ensure the successful evolution of strategies and programs for school leadership development and the development of sound professional learning cultures in schools.