Preparing the Next Generation of Educational Leaders: Initiating a Leadership Discourse in Initial Teacher Education

Abstract

Within the context of major international policy reforms impacting on the structure and delivery of initial teacher education, increasing principal attrition, a rise in distributed leadership practice and teacher leadership research, this paper considers the potential of introducing leadership studies to pre-service teachers in their formative education. Utilising a qualitative research design, existing literature is explored which considers the introduction of leadership studies within initial teacher preparation programmes, the prevalence of this practice, and the structure and focus of leadership studies offered. The paper reviews initial teacher education courses offered by top ranking i..