School leadership in high-performing schools in Gauteng: Voices of SMT members
Description
Abstract: The article presents the findings of a qualitative study on the characteristics of school leadership and management in two high-performing schools (HPSs) in Gauteng. The schools selected for the study had achieved over 90% overall pass rates from 2019 to 2021. Data were collected through document reviews from the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC), and semi-structured interviews were conducted with school management team (SMT) members. Data were thematically analysed, and the study’s findings indicated that high performance in schools is driven by several factors, including school managers’ role in shaping the direction and managing the school as an organisation; managing teaching and learning and assuring accountability; and working with and for the community. While these elements contribute to schools’ quality, the article suggests that effective school leadership is contingent on the school’s context, and various leadership styles can be employed to enhance schools’ performance.