A case for reimagining school leadership development to enhance collective efficacy

This paper draws together the research evidence and policy direction that underpin the Menzies School Leader Fellowship Program (MSLFP) and presents a case for reimagining school leadership development to enhance collective efficacy. The MSLFP a two-year, leadership development program that seeks to harness cross-sector expertise to understand how to build a pipeline of talented school leaders, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to successfully adapt to and take on the challenges and complexities of the role. The Fellowship is led by a multi-sector collaboration comprised of school leaders, their schools, and corporate, philanthropic and research partners and provides funding, skills building, advice and research to create and learn from these interventions. The first part of this paper outlines the context of school leadership, the second part focuses on the design of the MSLFP and concludes with research questions to be investigated as part of the Fellowship’s program of research and evaluation.