ABSTRACT
Many governments have set up some form of central school management training support agency. This paper presents a descriptive case study of a national centre which was established by the UK Government as one means of promoting its policy for improving the quality of schooling. In 1983 specific funds were made available for two new types of management course which the National Development Centre (NDC) was asked to monitor and support. These courses have been successful in stimulating awareness and increased support throughout the country for school management training but they have been less successful in having an impact upon the practice of school management and the improvement of schools. Better preparation and support would strengthen this impact, but experience in industry and education indicates that real improvements will only come about when each local education authority (LEA) roots such courses in an overall management development policy and programme. The NDC has mounted a development project with eight authorities to explore these ideas in practice. It also acts as a national clearinghouse and support agency for good practice in school management development and training. The chapter concludes by arguing that the knowledge base for school management development and training is inadequate and calls for more research and development work.
