Preparation and Training for School Leadership: case studies of nine women headteachers in the secondary independent sector

We have been carrying out a number of in-depth interviews with women headteachers in UK independent secondary schools as part of a pilot for a study into the preparation and training of women achieving headship in this sector. We used semi-structured interviews to find out not only about the formal training undertaken, but also to find out about what life experiences might have prepared them for the role of leading a school. As a further dimension to interpretation we drew up a concept map from each interview which was sent to each interviewee to check it was an accurate interpretation of her leadership style.