Deborah Nusche

The job of school leaders has changed radically as countries transform their education systems to prepare young people for today's rapid technological change, economic globalisation and increased migration. One new role they are being asked to play is to work beyond their school borders so that they can contribute not only to the success of their own school but tot he system as a whole - so that every school is a good school.

As countries strive to reform education systems and improve student results, school leadership is high on education policy agendas. But in many countries, the men and women who run schools are overburdened, underpaid and near retirement. And few people are lining up for their jobs.

What leadership roles contribute most to improving student learning? How best to allocate and distribute leadership tasks? How to develop the right skills for effective school leadership? How to make the profession attractive to high-quality candidates?