Taking up the reins : the first year for deputy principals

Traditionally enquiry into school leadership has tended to focus on the work of the principal, and the role of the deputy principal has often been overlooked. In particular, very little is known about how novice deputies make sense of their work during their first year of appointment, a time in which they are 'taking up the reins' and moving into whole-school leadership, management and administration. This article outlines the findings of a qualitative study of eight primary deputies in Western Australian state schools during their first year in the role. These findings suggest that novice deputies concentrate upon different aspects of their work at different phases' of their first year and that the way deputies deal with their work is different from principals. The findings have particular significance for the professional development of aspiring and newly appointed deputies