ABSTRACT
This chapter considers an historical account of the debates and critical perspectives around leadership in education across sectors and in a broad political context. It explains the contemporary fetishisation of 'strong' leadership – exemplified in popular culture and politics – and how this is increasingly a key element in everyday responses to the complexity of educational practices, especially by parents and the media. The chapter discusses the model of leadership presented in The Apprentice. It talks about the emotion, collegiality and conviviality – three ideas that broaden the leadership debate into more philosophical territory. The quest for the 'ideal' model of 'effective leadership' suggests that leadership roles are open to universal and standardising processes. Ethics and social justice issues, important to many who work in education settings, are often significantly downplayed in leadership development. Many people involved in leadership who are very reflective in their work may be over-critical of their own actions.
