Maintaining the Charism: Leadership Matters in Catholic Independent Schools

This chapter offers an evidenced based insight into central challenges facing leaders who are responsible for Catholic independent schoolsCatholic independent schools in the UK. Nearly all these schools were founded by Religious CongregationsReligious congregations and maintaining the unique charismCharism for the life of these schools has been a pressing leadershipLeadership issue. This chapter discusses the challenges and opportunities this offers to the leaders of independent Catholic schools. It does so by drawing on the initial findings of qualitative research findings which intentionally mirror the approach taken in Grace’sGrace, G. seminal 2002 research into Catholic school leadershipCatholic school leadership.