Educative Leadership: A Practical Theory

Abstract

This article reports on a research project (the Educative Leadership Project) which brought together theorists and exemplary practitioners within a critically collaborative research framework to generate a "practical" theory of leadership in educational settings. A major assumption of the project directors was that theory about educational leadership could be derived from a combination of theoretical knowledge of specialist theorists and practical wisdom, derived, primarily, from the experience of exemplary practitioners. The research process of the project is described and analyzed. The research findings are presented in the form of a tentative theory of educative leadership. Some implications for practice are also highlighted