The making of secondary school principals : some perspectives from the island of Malta

Abstract

The key purpose of this paper is to present the findings of the Maltese study which is part of a collective study involving four island states: Cyprus, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malta. The study adopts a biographical/ portrait-based approach to understanding the principalship and thus provides us with new insights into the growing literature in the field. It is aimed at contributing to our understanding of how principals are made and make themselves. The paper explores the views and perspectives that a small group of eight principals bring to their life and work. The paper briefly explores the career paths of the principals interviewed and focuses on the first two stages of their personal and professional lives - formation and accession. The study shows that family, family experiences and the community have an important part to play in influencing the lives of prospective leaders. The study also highlights the link between vicarious learning, continuous professional development and personal reflection.