ABSTRACT
Even if the school already has a clear philosophy and development plan, the appointment of a new headteacher allows the opportunity for everyone to look at this anew and, at the very least, to go forward with a renewed clarity of purpose and sense of destiny. Such opportunities ought never to be wasted, as they may not occur very often in the history of a school. If the school is not very successful, this process is essential. If it is successful, it is nonetheless important that a line is drawn under its previous achievements and the whole school, with its new leader, sets off towards the future. At the very least, the process of clarifying the vision—and reworking the school development plan—should allow the new leader to inject some energy into the school at an important point in its development.
