Leadership and creative teaching : perspectives of heads of schools in Maltese state schools

Abstract

Education in Malta has become significantly more complex as industry evolves at a rapid pace. Educational leaders are increasingly facing pressures from communities’ members, stakeholders, ministry officials and parents to prepare their students for the demands of the 21st century. Many heads of schools have attempted to improve their educational environments by promoting and developing creative teaching. This qualitative phenomenological study was designed to specifically address this phenomenon by exploring the lived experiences of heads of schools in Maltese primary state schools. This study’s aim was to gain valuable insights into their leadership practices when supporting creative teaching and the meanings they attach to them. More specifically, this research attempted to capture the voices of heads of schools to link the intrinsic relationships between adopted leadership practices and the gaps which exist in supporting creative teaching. Six inductive themes emerged from this study: 1. Time Constraints 2. Building a Strong Team/Teamwork 3. Motivation Through Learning 4. Communication and Empathy 5. Continuous Learning for Personal and Professional Growth 6. Holistic and Outdoor Learning Spaces. These themes were further analysed to produce this study’s major findings as: Three leadership styles, four leadership strategies and one major challenge. These findings provided significant insights into leadership practices that support creative teaching and offers recommendations for future reforms, research, new policies and practices.