Twenty first century Lutheran secondary schools operate in a complex and demanding social, historical and theological environment. Leadership needs to be conceptualized in a manner which is appropriate for a fluid, dynamic learning community. Contemporary thinking about school leadership explores concepts such as teacher leadership, shared and distributed leadership. Successful school leadership is also perceived to impact positively on student educational outcomes. The leadership of the deputy principal in many school sectors has traditionally been structured on the basis of a bureaucratic, hierarchical model. Such models are increasingly perceived as unhelpful in the school context, yet in response, little has changed for deputy principals. The purpose of the current study was to consider the situation in Lutheran secondary schools. It explored the understandings about leadership embedded in the current role of the deputy principals. This was achieved by comparison of the participants’ perceptions with historical leadership narratives. The key finding of this research is that in Lutheran schools, the leadership role of the deputy is often not as fully developed as would be appropriate in the existing climate, where schools and principals are expected to provide ever expanding services and fulfil multiple purposes. In many schools, the leadership role of the deputy does not provide sufficient training for succession to the principalship. Deputy principals are seen to focus on activity which supports educational leadership, but leaves them on the fringe of it. Deputies are often not involved in major teaching and learning strategic planning, vision and change management. This hinders their preparation for a future role as principal, but also deprives the school of a potentially significant source of leadership activity. Deputy principals are seen to model the Christian ethos of the school through the way they interact with staff and students and their involvement in the devotional life of the school. However, in-depth involvement in ongoing dialogue about Lutheran identity and the church in the school is usually dependent on the interest and passion of the individual deputies, not inherently demanded by the role. There is also a limited understanding of servant leadership influencing the practice of deputy principals in the schools. In order to maximise the effectiveness of the leadership role of the deputy principals in Lutheran secondary schools, it would be timely to draw together key doctrinal statements, leadership theory and Luther’s reflections on vocation, into a cohesive and practical understanding of leadership. This could form the basis for further development of distributed leadership in Lutheran secondary schools and help to ensure that they continue to successfully meet the needs of their communities.

The main aim of this research was to investigate the conditions that influence and shape the occupational perceptions of principals; systematically observe primary school principals in the islands of Malta, and to contrast these findings with the perceptions of a group of deputy principals. To achieve this aim three studies were conducted. The first study employed a self-administered questionnaire survey method employed with all principals in primary schools (i. e. state, church and private). 'Discussions with parents', 'discussions with staff' and 'desk work' have been highlighted as the major job functions taking up most of the principals' time. Half of the respondents rated 'desk work' as their majorjob function. The Maltese principal tended to perceive his/her role as falling within the chief executive model. The principal's duties related largely to the division and allocation of work, the co-ordination and control of organisational activities, communication with parents and staff, maintaining discipline and order, and maintaining the level of resources and plant upkeep. This survey, however, shows that principals wanted to take on functions within the leading professional model. In the second study, an observational study was conducted with the aim of checking out some of the perceptions principals held towards their role and to add another dimension to the overall picture by identifying what principals actually did in their daily life at work. The study explored the work patterns of eight primary school principals in the state sector. The observational study attested to the multi-varied nature of the principal's role. The principal's day was generally hectic in pace, varied in its composition, discontinuous and superficial in any pursuit of tasks, with the unexpected always as one of the few certainties of thejob. The principal's energy was observed as being devoted to keeping the school ticking over in the short run with hardly any time being devoted to discuss matters of direct relevance to the teaching-learning process, such as classroom practice, curriculum review and update. The dominant model was that of the transactional leader who is fixing things, managing and coping in order to maintain the smooth operation of the organisation. As highlighted in the questionnaire survey principals devoted their time to administration, pastoral care and communication with parents. Little to no time was stated as being devoted to high value tasks such as strategic planning and curriculum review. The portrayal of Maltese primary school principals is that they are not so much reflective or transformational leaders, rather they are chronically busy, reactive as against proactive, and caught up in, and tied down by the unceasing demands of others for their attention. The present research seems to have identified the transactional nature of leadership as the main medium of interaction that the primary school principals opted for. Bearing in mind the present period of changes and development of school management practices in Malta, it was felt appropriate to seek feedback from deputy principals whose own role was undergoing change. A small group of twenty newly-appointed deputy principals were approached to view how they perceived the role of the principal. At the same time it sought to identify their perceptions of their own role, and get an indication of how they viewed tomorrow's principalship. This, it was felt, would provide data as to how Maltese administrators in general viewed their role. Deputy principals presented similar feedback to that presented by principals. The major difference being in the way deputy principals perceived tomorrow's principalship – one which went beyond the transactional model of principal as administrator to the transformational model of principal as leading professional. However, nothing conclusive can be drawn out. There is a strong indication that principals and deputy principals desire this move but some responses express a certain degree of inconsistency which shows that the implications behind the transformational model are not well and truly understood by the participants of this survey. The implications of the findings for today's and tomorrow's principalship were discussed.

The aims of this study were to determine: • The nature of job stress. • Factors causing job stress in management personnel. • The perceived severity or intensity of job stress in management personnel in secondary schools. • The frequency of occurrence of job stress in management personnel in secondary schools. In order to achieve these aims a literature study and empirical investigation were undertaken. The data was investigated and evaluated and certain conclusions were made. Appropriate primary and secondary sources were used in the literature study. A DIALOG search was conducted using the following key words: job stress, occupational stress, career stress, work stress, management and education. The nature of job stress and factors causing job stress in management personnel were discussed. Spielberger's Job Stress Survey (JSS) was used for the empirical investigation. This questionnaire was designed to determine the amount of stress associated with a particular event and the frequency of its occurrence. The population consisted of the management teams (principals, deputy principals and heads of department) of 180 randomly selected secondary schools throughout South Africa. The management teams of 102 secondary schools throughout South Africa constituted the sample. The data obtained in the empirical investigation was statistically analysed and interpreted. In conclusion the study was summarised, findings were reported and specific recommendations were made for implementation in practice and for further research. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2000

The aims of this study were to determine: • The nature of job stress. • Factors causing job stress in management personnel. • The perceived severity or intensity of job stress in management personnel in secondary schools. • The frequency of occurrence of job stress in management personnel in secondary schools. In order to achieve these aims a literature study and empirical investigation were undertaken. The data was investigated and evaluated and certain conclusions were made. Appropriate primary and secondary sources were used in the literature study. A DIALOG search was conducted using the following key words: job stress, occupational stress, career stress, work stress, management and education. The nature of job stress and factors causing job stress in management personnel were discussed. Spielberger's Job Stress Survey (JSS) was used for the empirical investigation. This questionnaire was designed to determine the amount of stress associated with a particular event and the frequency of its occurrence. The population consisted of the management teams (principals, deputy principals and heads of department) of 180 randomly selected secondary schools throughout South Africa. The management teams of 102 secondary schools throughout South Africa constituted the sample. The data obtained in the empirical investigation was statistically analysed and interpreted. In conclusion the study was summarised, findings were reported and specific recommendations were made for implementation in practice and for further research. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 2000