Perspectives on identity: Being and becoming a head teacher

This chapter draws on research undertaken in Scotland as part of an International Study of Principal Preparation (ISPP). The study is designed to address the question: How useful are preparation programmes to novice head teachers? The starting point for the study was a shared belief that head teacher preparation is a crucial aspect of school development and progression within the broader remit of children’s services, and that programmes of preparation should have positive outcomes for those who participate in them. Four assumptions guide the ISPP:• good leadership and management can be taught and nurtured; • the primary purpose of headship is to facilitate effective teaching and learning; • head teachers’ learning needs vary as they progress through their careers; • cross-cultural perspectives can inform theory and practice.