Through studying this course, Leadership: external context and culture, you will develop your understanding of the impact of external context and culture on the practice of leadership. The course begins by exploring the nature ‘societal culture’, identifying how culture, at a number of levels, impacts on leadership. We then explore how the external context within which an organisation operates impacts on the factors that leaders need to take account of and consequently the exercise of leadership. Finally the course examines the relationship between policy and leadership.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

- understand how the concept of culture impacts on educational leadership practice

- critically reflect on the relationship between external context and culture at societal and local levels

- evaluate how external context and culture influences educational change in an organisation

- critically reflect on the relationship between policy and practice.