Middle Leadership for 21st Century Schools

Middle Leadership for 21st Century Schools is an extremely inspiring and motivational book which explores fundamental concepts relating to middle leadership and its place in an educational landscape which has transformed dramatically over the years. The useful strategies, case study quotes from a range of teachers and Bill's honesty in sharing his personal experiences make this book relatable to all, seamlessly linking the theory of leadership to everyday classroom experience. The use of reflective questions and evaluations also makes the book thought-provoking as well as informative, and it when we reflect on and relate to our own practice that we truly see Bill's intentions in driving effective and committed middle leadership within schools. Furthermore, his suggestions on how to overcome barriers in order to lead change are successful in helping us to explore leadership through the eyes of every teacher. Without a doubt, this is a very insightful and enlightening book a and I highly recommend it to all aspiring and practising middle leaders in education. Jenny Wilkinson, teacher and middle leader, Church of the Ascension Primary School Middle Leadership for 21st Century Schools is a well-written, well-referenced book offering great insights for those working in and around the often overlooked but crucial area of middle leadership. Richard Bradley, Managing Director, Master Trainer Institute Bill's book highlights the importance and relevance of the changing nature of middle leadership in schools, effectively guiding the reader through the demands of the role. It encourages established leaders to reflect on and refine their practice, and is both a abiblea for the aspiring middle leader and a useful resource to support school leadership course requirements and projects. Lynn Seal, Head of School, Kennington CE Academy In ''Middle Leadership for 21st Century Schools'', Bill Lowe demonstrates an assured understanding of what makes middle leadership distinctive. Lowe explores both the opportunities and the challenges the role presents, and discusses how to make the most of the former and how to develop strategies to address the latter, including from the perspective of the internally appointed. I like the emphasis on effective change management, the practical advice on how to navigate potential resistance from those who may feel threatened, the focus on middle leaders' capacity to make a contribution to system leadership, and the section on preparing to move into senior leadership. Lowe's probing questions and specific examples, scenarios and case studies encourage honest and productive reflection on the part of the reader as they process their learning. He also explores how developing leaders learn from both positive and negative role models, and delves into the importance of the key dispositions of civility, humility, honesty, empathy, fairness and integrity. I would have found this book an invaluable guide when I moved into my first middle leadership role, and can recommend it to those currently managing that transition. Jill Berry, leadership consultant, former head teacher and author of Making the Leap Occasionally, one reads a book that can make a profound difference to the success of an individual or organisation. Middle Leadership for 21st Century Schools is such a book. It is an enlightening, thought-provoking text that provides a new perspective on this vital area of school leadership and a road map for modern and effective practice. A must-read. Chris Griffiths, CEO, OpenGenius Ltd, innovation expert and bestselling co-author of The Creative Thinking Handbook The strength of this book lies in the honest reflections that Bill Lowe shares when he draws upon his own experience in middle and senior leadership. Covering a range of important topics a from the value of interpersonal skills, to preparation for further promotion and senior leadership a Bill also explores practical details and relevant management theory from the world of education and wider business. He carefully selects some useful insights from recent research and urges the reader to reflect on their own practice in each area. Middle Leadership for 21st Century Schools will be very useful for middle leaders looking to research leadership further, whilst the references to further reading will also be invaluable to the aspiring MA student of leadership. Caroline Bentley-Davies, middle leadership expert and author of How to Be an Amazing Middle Leader