School leadership can be both immensely rewarding and deeply challenging. Headteachers are under intense pressure when dealing with issues that can range from dealing with difficult parents and the aftermath of tragedy or scandal, to the day-to-day challenges of juggling the many different priorities involved in keeping the school, students and staff, moving forward.
In their inspirational new book experienced headteachers Richard Parker and David Middlewood, bring together the personal and professional experiences of successful headteachers and principals, from both primary and secondary schools, to provide a real life guide to the challenge of leadership in education. The focus of the book is not on idealised theories of leadership but on the pragmatic realities faced by school leaders today. It provides practical guidance and advice on key areas including:
- Ideas and strategies for effective leadership
- Juggling priorities and avoiding possible distractions
- The importance of people-centred leadership
- Transferable skills and the unique nature of the job
- Maintaining passion and optimism and minimising fear and apprehension
- Developing leadership skills without losing your individual personality and values

The Reality of School Leadership is a must read for all current and aspiring leaders, eager to reap the rewards of the challenging profession of headship.

Richard Parker spent over 40 years in teaching, nearly half of those as a headteacher. He was an associate tutor at the University of Leicester teaching educational leadership, a research associate with the NCSL and a member of the team at the University of Warwick commissioned to review headteacher succession planning.

David Middlewood is a research fellow at the Institute of Education, University of Warwick and was a headteacher for nine years previous to that. David has authored and edited over 17 books and he is a visiting professor in South Africa and New Zealand.