Number: 31

Fund source: ERFP, eduLab

Completed: 2010 – 2018

Nature (type): baseline, explanatory, exploratory

Education level: Primary, Secondary, Pre-tertiary, JC

Refer to Annex A

Classroom Resources

Why School Leadership Matters: A Synthesis of Local Research Studies

Videos

Dr Hairon Salleh

Principal Author, Associate Professor

To learn more about this research synthesis, please contact the Principal Author at: hairon.salleh@nie.edu.sg

Knowledge Resource Bank

LES on Why School Leadership Matters

Insights and Recommendations on School Leadership

Summary of LES

Background

Instructional leadership is a prominent feature of Singapore education system, and it should remain as the primary leadership model to

support pedagogical developments and innovations
achieve a diverse set of student learning outcomes
meet future demands of the nation’s society and economy

Key findings

Effective school leaders

build school cultures that support teacher agency, learning and explorations
distribute instructional leadership to all, including middle managers, formal and informal teacher leaders
leverage people and resources at multiple ecological levels to sustain curricular innovations and build leadership capacity

Recommendations

School leaders are recommended to:

engage teachers in policy interpretation and implementation in the context of their school’s vision, mission and objectives
support collaborative teacher learning which engages teachers in reflective dialogue and pedagogical experimentations
mobilise resources and partnerships at the cluster, ministry and national levels

Infographic Summary

Research Synthesis Team

To learn more about this research synthesis, please contact the Principal Author(s) at:

Dr Jeanne Ho (formerly of NIE)
Dr Hairon Salleh at hairon.salleh@nie.edu.sg, Office of Graduate Studies and Professional Learning (GPL), Policy, Curriculum and Leadership (PCL), NIE
Dr Chua Puay Huat (formerly of NIE)

Research Synthesis Method

A synthesis of 31 studies, taking place between 2010 and 2018, provided statistical information, explanations and investigative insights on the current status of school leadership situation in Singapore

Acknowledgments

The LES on School Leadership involves 29 studies funded by the Education Research Funding Programme, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and 2 eduLab studies funded by Ministry of Education and administered by Office of Education research (OER). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Singapore MOE and NIE.

This knowledge resource was developed by Ms Shruthilaya Ramachandran and Ms Monica Lim with approval from the Principal Author, Dr Jeanne HO Marie Pau Yuen as of 28 October 2021; updated by Ms Monica Lim on 4 January 2022.