Managerial discretion of school principals
How much freedom do principals really have to lead? School principals are expected to improve educational quality, raise student achievement, and implement reforms. But how much room do they actually have to make decisions in increasingly regulated and accountable school systems?
Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash
Understanding leadership under pressure
This project investigates the managerial discretion of school principals - the extent to which they are able to exercise professional judgment while balancing rising performance expectations and administrative demands.
Using a mixed-methods approach, the researchers combine interviews with principals from both public and independent schools with a nationwide survey distributed to all principals in Swedish compulsory education during 2025. The project explores how laws, governance structures, accountability systems, and relationships with teachers, unions, parents, and school owners shape principals' opportunities to lead.
Understanding the realities of school leadership
By examining the balance between professional autonomy and institutional constraints, the project provides new insights into the conditions under which principals can exercise effective leadership. The findings will contribute to research on educational leadership, public administration, and school governance, while informing future leadership development and education policy.
Research team