ABSTRACT
Learning will be at the heart of any sophisticated school culture, but it will be surrounded and supported by a complex web of activities which together form part of the experience of attending school. One of the most interesting aspects of school development is the impact and influence of political and societal preoccupations on the learning culture in schools. In some of the best schools, political agendas are acknowledged but rarely allowed to distort or dominate pre-existing learning cultures. The level of reporting in schools is one potential area of distraction. The distractions which divert leadership teams from focusing on the more important aspects of their school’s learning culture are equally apparent in their day-to-day activities. This is easily confirmed by compiling a leadership log. Encouraging high-quality teaching to spread across the school is a key to developing a powerful learning culture.
