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Against the tide: challenges of leading a sustainable school

Author: Penny Campbell
Subject: Sustainable schools
Audience: Headteachers, Middle leaders and aspiring headteachers, Stakeholders and partners
Date of publication: July 2010   |   File format and size: PDF, 345 Kb

There are many challenges to consider when a school is trying to develop more sustainable practice across the school. These include having a clear vision with clear outcomes, gaining commitment, achieving a shared sense of purpose and maintaining momentum.

The skills and qualities of school leaders can make all the difference when it comes to trying to overcome these challenges. This report looks at all of these points and is based on enquiry into schools that have already developed a more sustainable approach.

Some of the key challenges facing school leaders as they seek to develop sustainable schools and embed sustainable practices are:

  • articulating a clear vision with clear outcomes
  • overcoming resistant attitudes and gaining commitment
  • achieving a shared understanding and a shared sense of purpose and direction
  • overcoming barriers to progress and maintaining momentum

The author Penny Campbell explores these in more detail and offers some comprehensive recommendations to help those leading schools, overcome these challenges.

This report is part of a number of resources that the College has produced on leading sustainable schools.