Summary of a seminar which dealt with strategies to address school dropout rates, particularly in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Speakers, panellists and participants shared views and experiences on issues such as causes of drop out, monitoring school attendance, school to parent communication and much more.
Use Case:
This discussion took place in 2022 so details of specific strategies need to be read in this context. Advocacy interventions such as the Zero Dropout Campaign are however ongoing. The issues around drop out identified and explored in this resource are still pertinent for anyone working in this critical area of concern in our schooling system, including school management teams.
Source and Date:
BRIDGE’s Principals Upfront Dialogue Series, Dialogue 16, 2022
Summary of a school leadership seminar which explored theoretical and practical perspectives on the role of mentoring in school leadership development interventions. Highlights from presentations and discussions cover the challenges and enablers of implementing effective mentorship programmes for school leaders.
Use Case:
Because this interaction captured the views of both scholars and practitioners, it provides some useful insights which could be used for those working with mentorship elements in any educational programme, or those who are themselves mentors either for school leaders or as school leaders.
Source and Date:
BRIDGE’s Principals Upfront Dialogue Series, Dialogue 12, 2019
The pack includes guidelines, tools and templates designed to support learning and development in participating schools, with the aim of improving the quality of teaching. The process, which takes place over a set number of days, is a cooperative partnership between a review team of teachers and a host school. Teacher peers give useful feedback through observation and interactions at the host school. The overview document sets out the purpose, principles and scope of a peer review process, including a description of the four domains and the three phases of the process. The Peer Review Process has links to 12 supporting tools and resources for planning, implementation and feedback.
Use Case:
The South African Extraordinary Schools Coalition (SAESC) regularly used the School Peer Review process as a means to build relationships and share practices between its member schools. BRIDGE in turn integrated and adapted the School Peer Review process into its own work in School Leadership interventions in public schools. The resources could also be used as discrete tools in any school leadership capacity building programmes, or by schools wishing to conduct a peer review process with others.
Source and Date:
The Peer Review Process was initiated and developed by the SAESC as a BRIDGE community of practice, going through various iterations up until this 2018 version. Still in use.
Describes five domains of school leadership accompanied by reflective questions for principals to help them set up an annual implementation plan. Ways in which various levels of responsibility can be delegated and monitored are included with an example of a Year Plan template. The Toolkit overview has links to four resources.
Use Case:
Principals can adapt this Toolkit for their own contexts, or it could be integrated into capacity building programmes for principals or school management teams.
Source and Date:
Developed for the BRIDGE School Principals communities of practice, 2018. Still in use.
These two Learning Briefs summarise the themes and issues discussed at two consecutive seminars on the roles, responsibilities, and challenges of school leadership. Key points from expert inputs on instructional leadership, panel discussions and points raised from the floor are noted.
Use Case:
Principals themselves or anyone working with school leaders or developing school leadership programmes can draw from these two resources. The contextualised on-the-ground perspectives and concerns from working principals can be used as discussion points, adapted for relevance to current issues.
Source and Date:
BRIDGE’s Principals Upfront Dialogue Series, Dialogue 4, 2016 and Dialogue 5, 2016
Summary of empirical research into how effective principals guide and support teaching staff to enable a good learning environment.
Use Case:
Principals can use this resource for self-reflection, or it can serve as a case study in school leadership programmes.
Source and Date:
Podcast summary from BRIDGE and Cliff Central radio partnership, 2016.
On-the-ground view from a principal of a school in a disadvantaged area on how good leadership from all in the school can support learners.
Use Case:
Use as a case study or profile in school leadership programmes.
Source and Date:
Podcast summary from BRIDGE and Cliff Central radio partnership, 2015.
