Successful school leadership in Singapore

© 2010 Dr. Loke Heng WangThis study explored the characteristics and practices of the principals in four successful primary schools in Singapore. As this study forms part of an international study, the International Successful School Principalship Project (ISSPP), the research methodology adhered to its protocol, albeit adapted to suit the Singapore context. As such, it adopted a multi-perspective case study methodology in which semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from principals, teaching and non-teaching staff, students, parents and School Management Committee/ School Advisory Committee members. These data were analyzed in several stages, including coding, categorization, cross-case analysis and interpretation. The principals were found to have contributed significantly to the success of their schools. Their leadership was underpinned by their personal qualities, beliefs and values, which guided their practices. The four principals were highly successful in improving school capacity through redesigning school structures, particularly those that facilitate improvement in the work of teachers. They enhanced the professional capacity of the teaching and non-teaching staff through professional development programmes and grooming future leaders. The principals also established meaningful partnerships with stakeholders inside and outside the school community. They also empowered the stakeholders through distribution of power and shared decision making processes. Each of the principals described how their leadership was built upon the legacy of previous principals at their schools. Overall, each of the principals successfully led their schools to achieve educational excellence, and a model describes this in terms of 6Es - Educate, Envision, Energize, Engage, Enable and Embrace. This study provided an Asian perspective which is missing from much of the research on successful school leadership