A1 Journal article (refereed)
Three orientations for understanding educational autonomy : School principals’ voices from Australia, Finland, and Jamaica (2021)

Heikkinen, H. L. T., Wilkinson, J., & Bristol, L. (2021). Three orientations for understanding educational autonomy : School principals’ voices from Australia, Finland, and Jamaica. Journal of Educational Administration and History, 53(3-4), 198-214. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220620.2020.1849060

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Heikkinen, Hannu L. T.; Wilkinson, Jane; Bristol, Laurette

Journal or series: Journal of Educational Administration and History

ISSN: 0022-0620

eISSN: 1478-7431

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 53

Issue number: 3-4

Pages range: 198-214

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00220620.2020.1849060

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/74410

Abstract

This paper reports on the findings from a multi-site case study conducted in Australia, Finland and Jamaica which explored the conditions that enabled and constrained the autonomy of school principals. Systematic data collection was carried out in the form of interviews of school principals and the data was analysed using a qualitative approach. The analysis indicates that: (1) school principals’ practices are prefigured by the peculiarities of historical trajectories and ideological traditions enmeshed in schooling sites; (2) these prefiguring arrangements in turn influence varying realisations of autonomous decision making practices across national sites; and (3) even in the expression of high/low levels of autonomy, there are contradictory and contested practices. Through the analysis, three different orientations to autonomy were found: a neoliberal market orientation, a professional practice orientation and an educational praxis orientation.

Keywords: school administration; leadership (activity); decision making; autonomy (societal properties); headmasters; professional development; practice

Free keywords: school autonomy; professional autonomy; professional development; professional learning; educational leadership; praxis

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1