Leading for School Belonging : How to Navigate the Way Ahead

“Urgent, fearless and profoundly resonant.” Claudet Hedman, Principal, Christ Church (Erith) C of E Primary School “Everyone working in, and with, every school, can learn from this powerful book.” Dame Mary Marsh, Leader and Educator Every young person and adult entering a school for the first time wonders, Will I belong here? In this open access book, global educator Kathryn Riley sends a powerful message: Whoever young people are, however they learn, they deserve to be in schools where they feel safe, connected and feel they belong. Leading for School Belonging combines research and professional knowledge with analysis, case studies and stories. Kathryn highlights the principles of school belonging (how they shape intentions, guide behaviour, influence actions); the practice (the features of school-life that matter); and the pathways (the journeys schools can take to build belonging). Readers are invited to embark on a ‘belonging’ journey,rewarding for young people and adults alike.In support of this journey, the book offers clear pathways forward, including a new 'theory of change for school belonging'. The evidence speaks for itself in vivid case studies: Tanglin, an international school in Singapore exploring what belonging means for 'third culture kids'; Flakefleet, a Fleetwood primary school building joy and ambition; Fullhurst, a Leicester secondary school, partnering its young leaders in the process for change. Key research findings include an international ‘Live’ Delphi Study on the strategies that matter. Leading for School Belonging contains the seeds of joy, engagement and discovery. The book is indispensable reading for leaders committed to creating schools which are anchors of belonging and opportunity in the lives of young people. The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com