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Pupil-Centred Spiritual Leadership: An Empirical Study of Thirteen Church Primary School Headteachers in England

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Title: Pupil-Centred Spiritual Leadership: An Empirical Study of Thirteen Church Primary School Headteachers in England
Language: English
Authors: Ursula Eisl, Mary Woolley (ORCID 0000-0001-7192-388X), Sabina Hulbert, Ann Casson, Robert A. Bowie
Source: International Studies in Catholic Education. 2025 17(1):5-20.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Principals, Elementary Schools, Catholic Schools, Christianity, Religious Colleges, Administrator Role, Religious Factors, Leadership Styles, Language Usage, Child Development
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom (England)
DOI: 10.1080/19422539.2023.2171622
ISSN: 1942-2539
1942-2547
Abstract: The place of Church school headteachers as spiritual leaders of the school community is rarely highlighted. This article investigates how 13 Church primary school headteachers (Catholic Church of England, and Methodist) interpret this role. It draws on the Faith in the Nexus research which investigated how church primary schools nurtured pupils' spiritual development and facilitated faith activity in the home. The head teacher interviews revealed several recurring themes, such as empowering children, collective worship, relationships with church and parents, and the visibility of faith in school. This research brings together a comparison of leadership approaches from Catholic and Anglican headteachers. Evidence of differences emerged; Catholic headteachers tended to use 'overtly religious' language while many Anglican headteachers employed a more 'secular' language to express their vision of spiritual leadership. A comparison with Shaw's (2015, 2017) model of 'ethotic leadership', highlighted much in common. The headteachers' ethos was pupil-centric and shaped by a focus on the spiritual development of the child. An adaptation of Shaw's model is offered which places the child at the centre.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1469141
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Pupil-Centred Spiritual Leadership: An Empirical Study of Thirteen Church Primary School Headteachers in England
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ursula+Eisl%22">Ursula Eisl</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mary+Woolley%22">Mary Woolley</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7192-388X">0000-0001-7192-388X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sabina+Hulbert%22">Sabina Hulbert</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ann+Casson%22">Ann Casson</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Robert+A%2E+Bowie%22">Robert A. Bowie</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Studies+in+Catholic+Education%22"><i>International Studies in Catholic Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 17(1):5-20.
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  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 16
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Principals%22">Principals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Schools%22">Elementary Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Catholic+Schools%22">Catholic Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Christianity%22">Christianity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Religious+Colleges%22">Religious Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Administrator+Role%22">Administrator Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Religious+Factors%22">Religious Factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Leadership+Styles%22">Leadership Styles</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Usage%22">Language Usage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Development%22">Child Development</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom+%28England%29%22">United Kingdom (England)</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1080/19422539.2023.2171622
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  Data: 1942-2539<br />1942-2547
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  Data: The place of Church school headteachers as spiritual leaders of the school community is rarely highlighted. This article investigates how 13 Church primary school headteachers (Catholic Church of England, and Methodist) interpret this role. It draws on the Faith in the Nexus research which investigated how church primary schools nurtured pupils' spiritual development and facilitated faith activity in the home. The head teacher interviews revealed several recurring themes, such as empowering children, collective worship, relationships with church and parents, and the visibility of faith in school. This research brings together a comparison of leadership approaches from Catholic and Anglican headteachers. Evidence of differences emerged; Catholic headteachers tended to use 'overtly religious' language while many Anglican headteachers employed a more 'secular' language to express their vision of spiritual leadership. A comparison with Shaw's (2015, 2017) model of 'ethotic leadership', highlighted much in common. The headteachers' ethos was pupil-centric and shaped by a focus on the spiritual development of the child. An adaptation of Shaw's model is offered which places the child at the centre.
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: EJ1469141
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      – SubjectFull: Elementary Schools
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      – SubjectFull: Child Development
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      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom (England)
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