Formalize, Prioritize, Mobilize: Exploring the Role of School Leaders in Maximizing the Impact of the New Forest Professional Learning Network

• In Event: Responsible Research Use From a Variety of Perspectives

Abstract

This paper presents a case study of how school leaders have attempted to maximise the effectiveness of participating the New Forest Research Learning Network (RLN). The aim of the New Forest RLN is to drive change amongst some 70 teachers and some 1,470 students overall.To construct the case, in-depth semi structured interviews with RLN participants, as well as impact data and policy documents were used to: 1) ascertain practices adopted by school leaders to maximise the benefits of PLN engagement to their schools; 2) judge the perceived efficacy of these practices; and 3) provide suggestions for the types of leadership activity that might appear to maximise the effectiveness of schools engaging in PLNs more generally.

Author

• Chris Brown, Durham University