Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Education in the Department of Educational Planning and Administration, University of Zululand, 2002. / This study seeks to evaluate the leadership style of female principals in the Inanda District high schools. The researcher made use of interviews and questionnaires to evaluate the perceptions of parents and educators towards the leadership style of female principals, and how effective female principals are when carrying out their managerial duties at school. On the basis of the views expressed by respondents, the study concluded that the leadership styles of the female principals in the area studied, were effective in areas such as promoting order and discipline and keeping accurate records of all financial transactions. The research project, however, established that although the majority (70%) of respondents perceive female principals in the area where the research was conducted as effective, there was a sizeable number varying between twenty-five per cent and thirty per cent (25%-30%) of respondents who were either uncertain or did not agree that female principals are effective. Recommendations and concluding remarks suggest a possible way forward towards improving the situation, for example: Female principals must be democratic in decision making.