Proposing a Leadership Model to Improve Underachieving Schools' Performance in Deprived Communities

This chapter outlines the findings from a case study that explored how a South African primary school in a challenging context had improved and raised students' academic performance. It shows how the principal's leadership in collaboration with all role players was able to influence the school's ability to improve and sustain its improvement. The study, however, argues that a school facing challenging contexts requires appropriate differentiated strategies to ensure school improvement. It concludes by proposing a model in which schools in challenging contexts can improve student performance. This, however, implies that such schools need to be committed to change and identify “tailor-made” strategies to ensure improved performance.