ABSTRACT
The year 1994 saw the founding of the Committee for Standards in Public Life. The public post requires leadership, accountability and objectivity: on the other, these are based on the post-holder’s personal qualities of selflessness, openness and honesty. The Nolan Principles and the supporting structure were set up by John Major’s government in 1995 and their reach expanded to all public office holders under the Blair government. School leaders must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. School leaders should be trustworthy, effective and sensible. They should tell the truth and respond to accountability measures for the good of the whole system and in the spirit in which they were instituted. School leaders should exhibit Nolan principles in their own leadership. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.
