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Special Interest Group

Educational Leadership

A meeting place for the critical exploration of educational leadership – research, policy and practice - in the pursuit of social justice.

This SIG is concerned with the governance and leadership of educational institutions in all sectors (compulsory and post-compulsory; state, voluntary and private) and all contexts. 

We are interested in both the policy and institutional practices, including the moral, social, cultural and political positioning adopted, together with the processes involved in developing these practices, ultimately for the benefit of learners. These interests extend beyond the UK with many of us are engaged in the research and scholarship of educational leadership and management in overseas contexts. 

Some of our members undertake empirical research; others develop theory and theoretical perspectives; and some are involved in practitioner research. We welcome the active involvement of all members who may be established or emerging researchers with an interest in the field of educational leadership.

Research interests 

  • School, FE and HE educational leadership  
  • Policy scholarship of educational leadership 
  • Governance and educational leadership 
  • Educational leadership, power, inequality, change and activism 
  • Educational leadership and social justice 

SIG aims:  

The aim of the SIG is to provide a place for critical discussion were researchers in the field of educational leadership can explore theoretical and methodological approaches to research in the field .   

The aims of the group are to: 

  • Explore and share current research in the field of educational leadership. 
  • Generate new ideas about research methodologies and approaches in the field. 
  • Promote amongst researchers and practitioners a critical understanding of research within the field. 
  • Help develop a context of critical enquiry to the field as a means for social justice. 
  • Help foster a community of critical educational leadership scholars.
  • Provide a platform to promote the research and academic interests of SIG members.

Activities /Events: 

The SIG seeks to develop a community through its 

  • An annual forum meeting 
  • two SIG events to share current research in the field.  
  • Quarterly newsletters that share the work of SIG members and opportunities to engage in the field. 

BERA Educational Leadership Forum

SIG Convenors

Profile picture of Azumah Dennis
Azumah Dennis, Professor

Lecturer at The Open University

Carol Azumah Dennis has worked in higher education since 2010, first at the University of Hull where she was employed initially as a lecturer in education and programme director for post-16 teacher education, and later as programme director for...

Profile picture of Karen Healey
Karen Healey

PhD student at University of Manchester

Karen is a lecturer in education leadership at the Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester. Her teaching is focused around contemporary issues in educational leadership policy and practice in the pursuit of socially just...

Content associated with this SIG

BERA Educational Research Book of the Year

Closes 22 Jul 2025

This award celebrates the publication of educational research and is awarded to a scholarly book on education deemed to be high quality, engaging and innovative.

AwardOpen