Publications – diversity

Publications on the subjects of black and minority ethnic school leaders, inclusion, faith schools and gender and equal opportunities.


Black and minority ethnic leaders

Black and ethnic minority leaders

Black and minority ethnic leaders Adobe Acrobat Reader required (440kb, 77 pages)
Tony Bush et al

This research looks at how black and minority ethnic leaders are identified, developed and supported. It focuses on the barriers experienced by black and minority ethnic leaders and on how they have been able to overcome these and progress to senior or middle leadership positions.

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Challenge plus: the experience of black and minority ethnic school leaders

Challenge Plus: the experience of black and minority ethnic school leaders (2002) Adobe Acrobat Reader required (518kb, 6 pages)
Jan McKenley and Dr Gloria Gordon

Study looking into a wide range of issues including career histories, progression routes, successes and challenges faced by black and minority ethnic leaders.

Challenge plus – full report Adobe Acrobat Reader required (733kb, 58 pages)

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Children’s voices, children’s rights: what children with special needs have to say about their variously inclusive schools

RA summary report Bishton

Children’s voices, children’s rights: what children with special needs have to say about their variously inclusive schools (2007)

The aim of this report was to find authentic ways of seeking the views of primary-aged children with learning difficulties about their variously inclusive school placements.

Children’s voices, children’s rights: what children with special needs have to say about their variously inclusive schools Adobe Acrobat Reader required (490kb, 20 pages)

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Comparing the experiences of black and minority ethnic leaders in English schools and cross-boundary leaders in South Africa

Comparing the experiences

Comparing the experiences of black and minority ethnic leaders in English schools and cross-boundary leaders in South Africa (2006) Adobe Acrobat Reader required (861kb, 4 pages)
Professor Kholeka Moloi and Geraldine Potgeiter

This paper summarises key research findings from a broader study of the experiences of black and minority ethnic leaders in English schools. It compares and contrasts the findings from a study of cross-boundary leaders in South Africa.

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Developing inclusive schools: implications for leadership

Developing inclusive schools

Developing inclusive schools:implications for leadership (2001) Adobe Acrobat Reader required (403kb, 6 pages)
Mel Ainscow

This study forms part of a series of essays on effective school leadership that provided the foundations for the College’s research role. It reflects on research evidence on inclusive education in order to draw out implications for those who take on leadership roles in schools.

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Effective leadership in multi-ethnic schools

Effective leadership in multi-ethnic schools (2005) Adobe Acrobat Reader required (410kb, 52 pages)
Professor Allan Walker, Professor Clive Dimmock, Dr Howard Stevenson et al

This report explores issues relating to the effective leadership of schools in which a substantial proportion of students are from minority ethnic communities. Part I deals with priorities, strategies and challenges; Part II looks at school community perspectives and their leadership implications.

A printed version, priced £5, is available by clicking on the button below.


Gender and headship in the 21st century

Cover of Gender and headship in the 21st century

Gender and headship in the 21st century (2005) Adobe Acrobat Reader required (129kb, 6 pages)
Dr Marianne Coleman

NCSL commissioned research into the gender-related experience of male and female headteachers. The research examined the impact of gender on the working life of headteachers and made recommendations for school leaders, governors and national training programmes.

Gender and headship – full report Adobe Acrobat Reader required (311kb, 56 pages)

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Inclusive leadership: leadership for inclusion

cover of Inclusive Leadership

Inclusive leadership : leadership for inclusion (2003) Adobe Acrobat Reader required (494kb, 6 pages)
Judy W Kugelmass

Using evidence from case studies of leadership practice in schools in three countries, this report addresses the implications of reforms calling for inclusive education.

Inclusive leadership – full report Adobe Acrobat Reader required (201kb, 21 pages)

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Leadership and inclusion: a special school perspective

Leadership and inclusion

Leadership and inclusion : a special school perspective (2002) Adobe Acrobat Reader required (363kb, 36 pages)

A summary of the debates, workshops and conversations that took place at a number of Leading Practice seminars investigating issues facing special schools. The materials have been developed either as a basis for personal reflection or for use in workshops to stimulate debate.

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Opening doors, opening minds

Opening doors opening minds

Opening doors, opening minds (2006) Adobe Acrobat Reader required (446kb, 6 pages)
Peter Gordon

How are schools seeking to include pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties into mainstream schools? This report seeks to explore models of co-location in which mainstream and special school provision is located in the same building so that links can be established for the benefit of pupils.

Opening doors, opening minds – full report Adobe Acrobat Reader required (574kb, 34 pages)

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Priorities, strategies and challenges: proactive leadership in multi-ethnic schools

Priorities, strategies and challenges

Priorities, strategies and challenges : proactive leadership in multi-ethnic schools (2004) Adobe Acrobat Reader required (194kb, 24 pages)
Allan Walker

International research associate report about how five heads of multi-ethnic schools face the challenges of their unique environments.

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Reaching out, reaching in

Reaching out reaching in

Reaching out, reaching in Adobe Acrobat Reader required (2006) (274kb, 6 pages)
Joy Beaney

The focus of this research was to identify key features of successful inclusion support services for children with an autistic spectrum disorder in mainstream schools and the leadership practices applied within these contexts to ensure effectiveness.

Reaching out, reaching in – full report Adobe Acrobat Reader required (977kb, 47 pages)

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Successful leadership for promoting the achievement of white working class pupils – full report

Successful leadership for promoting the achievement of white working class pupils – full report (2008) Adobe Acrobat Reader required (280kb, 31 pages)
Denis Mongon and Christopher Chapman

This report found that ‘white British’ boys entitled to free school meals were the male group with lowest attainment and ‘white British’ girls entitled to free school meals were the female group with lowest attainment. The research identified and studied 12 schools (download the vignettes of the schools) that have managed to buck the national trend in the attainment levels of their white, working-class students, and from this it delivers a blueprint for school leadership.
Download the summary report.
Download the literature review.


Successful leadership for promoting the achievement of white working class pupils – literature review

Successful leadership for promoting the achievement of white working class pupils – literature review (2008) Adobe Acrobat Reader required (395kb, 45 pages)
Denis Mongon and Christopher Chapman

This literature review is one of the outputs from the research project which reflects on successful leadership for promoting the achievement of white working class pupils. The review is based on a search of published and web based sources.
Download the full report and summary report. Download the vignettes of the 12 schools where the research was undertaken.

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Successful leadership for promoting the achievement of white working class pupils – summary

Successful leadership for promoting the achievement of white working class pupils – summary (2008) Adobe Acrobat Reader required (78kb, 7 pages)

This report found that ‘white British’ boys entitled to free school meals were the male group with lowest attainment and ‘white British’ girls entitled to free school meals were the female group with lowest attainment. The research identified 12 schools (download the vignettes of the schools) that have managed to buck the national trend in the attainment levels of their white, working-class students, and from this it delivers a blueprint for school leadership.
Download the full report.
Download the literature review.


Successful leadership for promoting the achievement of white working class pupils. Vignettes: twelve accounts of school life

Successful leadership for promoting the achievement of white working class pupils. Vignettes: twelve accounts of school life (2008) Adobe Acrobat Reader required (574kb, 57 pages)

‘White British’ boys entitled to free school meals are the male group with lowest attainment and ‘white British’ girls entitled to free school meals are the female group with lowest attainment. This paper contains case studies of 12 schools that have managed to buck the national trend in the attainment levels of their white, working-class students. These vignettes accompany the full report and summary report that investigate white working class achievement at school, and the literature review that informed the report.

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