Middle leaders in schools: who are they and what do they do?

This article explores the role of middle leaders in schools. Using the extant literature from schools and other contexts it attempts to define middle leadership and describe what middle leaders do in schools, presenting a conceptual framework for consideration. Using data from the authors own recent experiences in research and working with school leaders it then compares theory with practice in order to try to answer the question, or at least begin to answer the question : who are the middle leaders in schools and what do they do?