Outstanding Schools in Saudi Arabia: Leadership Practices, Culture and Professional Development

505 Pages·2017·8.76 MB·English

by  Muteb Abdulmohsen

Outstanding Schools in Saudi Arabia:
Leadership Practices, Culture and
Professional Development

Thesis submitted for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy

Institute of Education

Muteb Alhammadi
September 2017
Declaration of Original Authorship

Declaration:

I confirm that this is my own work and the use of all material from other
sources has been properly and fully acknowledged.
Muteb Alhammadi

II
Abstract
As Saudi Arabia strives to position itself strategically in global markets in
response to globalization, education has become one of the most important tools
to achieve this aim. While demands for reform in Western countries have
fostered new notions of school excellence, equivalent concepts have to date
received little attention in Saudi Arabia. This study aims to fill this gap by
exploring the nature of outstanding schools in Saudi Arabia, and thus claims to
be an original and important contribution to the understanding of this
phenomenon.
A qualitative case-study approach was used drawing on data from three high
schools in Saudi Arabia, each having been rated outstanding by the city’s local
authority. Principals, Deputies and Social Instructors from the three schools were
interviewed (n=9), while group interviews were conducted with the majority of
teachers from each school (n=68; 25 out of 26 teachers from school 1; 20 out of
24 teachers from school 2 and 23 out of 28 from school 3. In addition, the daily
work of Principals in each school was observed and relevant documents were
collected. The resulting data were thematically analysed using a framework
based on the inter-related concepts of leadership practices, culture and
professional development
The findings reveal that leadership practices in these outstanding schools
included a number of common features, such as establishing school vision,
restructuring the organisation, leadership distribution, effective communication,
strategic planning and quality assurance. Cultural aspects revealed the effect of
both macro-level cultures: global and national cultures on these schools, as well
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as micro-scale effects. Professional development was perceived to be important,
and both leaders and teachers engaged in training opportunities. While these
results cannot be generalised, it is hoped that they will be important to inform
practitioners, policy makers and researchers about the nature of outstanding
schools in Saudi Arabia.

IV
Acknowledgements
I would like to extend my deepest and most sincere gratitude to my lord, Allah,
and to those who helped, encouraged and supported me prior to and for the
duration of this arduous task. This journey would have not even begun without
the love and support of my lord, and also my supervisors, mother, wife,
brothers, son and friends.
I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr Alan Floyd, for assisting me at each stage
of this journey. He was always there, throughout the difficulties and celebrations,
and his support was unwavering during times of inspiration and despondency.
Without his guidance, I cannot imagine how daunting this journey would have
been.
I am grateful to my mother for ceaselessly enquiring about my progress, and
also about my social and personal life. My prayers and wishes are with her
always.
I am also thankful to my wife for sacrificing her own needs, and for choosing to
stand by and support me during this journey.
I am truly appreciative of the three schools who opened their doors to me, made
me feel at welcome, and allowed me to conduct this research, while providing
their help and support.
Finally, I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to my brothers, Abdallah, Ahmed
and Mohammad, for always believing in me. Their high expectations of me
inspired me to continue, and pushed me forward through obstacles and
difficulties.
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Table of Contents
Declaration of Original Authorship ................................................................ II
Abstract .................................................................................................. III
Acknowledgements ..................................................................................... V
Table of Contents ...................................................................................... VI
List of Figures .......................................................................................... XII
List of Tables .......................................................................................... XIV
Chapter One: Introduction .......................................................................... 1
1.1 Identifying the problem ...................................................................... 1
1.2 The origin of the research ................................................................... 6
1.3 Research aims and questions .............................................................. 8
1.4 Conceptual framework ........................................................................ 8
1.5 Methodology ................................................................................... 11
1.6 Significance and importance of the study ............................................ 12
1.7 Overview of the thesis ...................................................................... 15
1.8 Conclusion ...................................................................................... 16
Chapter Two: The International Educational Context..................................... 17
2.1 Introduction .................................................................................... 17
2.2 Globalization ................................................................................... 18
2.2.1 Defining globalization .................................................................. 19
2.2.2 Globalization and education ......................................................... 27
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2.3 Saudi Arabia ................................................................................... 42
2.3.1 The country and the people ......................................................... 43
2.3.2 The education system in Saudi Arabia ........................................... 48
2.3.3 Conclusion ................................................................................. 60
2.4 Summary ........................................................................................ 60
Chapter Three: Literature Review ............................................................... 62
3.1 Introduction .................................................................................... 62
3.2 Outstanding schools ......................................................................... 63
3.3 Conceptual framework ...................................................................... 65
3.3.1 Leadership styles ....................................................................... 66
3.3.2 Culture ..................................................................................... 80
3.3.3 Professional development ............................................................ 89
3.3.4 Linking concepts together ........................................................... 100
3.4 Research studies............................................................................. 105
3.4.1 Leadership practices .................................................................. 105
3.4.2 Culture .................................................................................... 114
3.4.3 Professional development ........................................................... 121
3.4 Conclusion ..................................................................................... 126
Chapter Four: Methodology ...................................................................... 130
4.1 Introduction ................................................................................... 130
4.2 Paradigm rational ........................................................................... 131
4.2.1 Ontology .................................................................................. 132
VII
4..2.2 Epistemology ........................................................................... 133
4.3 Approach ....................................................................................... 136
4.4 Research process ............................................................................ 140
4.5 Context ......................................................................................... 143
4.6 Case study selection ........................................................................ 146
4.7 Participants .................................................................................... 148
4.8 Methods of data collection ................................................................ 150
4.8.1 Documentary analysis ................................................................ 152
4.8.2 Observations ............................................................................ 153
4.8.3 Interviews ................................................................................ 156
4.8.4 Group interviews ....................................................................... 159
4.9 Data analysis ................................................................................. 161
4.10 Integrity of the research ................................................................ 165
4.11 Ethical considerations .................................................................... 170
4.12 Conclusion ................................................................................... 172
Findings and Analysis: Introductory Page ................................................... 173
Chapter Five: Safeer School- Findings and Analysis ..................................... 175
5.1 Introduction ................................................................................... 175
5.2 Context ......................................................................................... 175
5.3 Participants .................................................................................... 178
5.4 Findings and analysis ...................................................................... 180
5.4.1 Leadership practices .................................................................. 180
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5.4.2 Culture .................................................................................... 203
5.4.3 Professional development ........................................................... 219
5.5 Conclusion ..................................................................................... 230
Chapter Six: Wazeer School - Findings and Analysis .................................... 232
6.1 Introduction ................................................................................... 232
6.2 Context ......................................................................................... 232
6.3 Participants .................................................................................... 237
6.4 Findings and analysis ...................................................................... 238
6.4.1 Leadership practices .................................................................. 239
6.4.2 Culture .................................................................................... 267
6.4.3 Professional development ........................................................... 287
6.5 Conclusion ..................................................................................... 299
Chapter Seven: King’s School - Findings and Analysis .................................. 301
7.1 Introduction ................................................................................... 301
7.2 Context ......................................................................................... 301
7.3 Participants .................................................................................... 304
7.4 Findings and analysis ...................................................................... 305
7.4.1 Leadership practices .................................................................. 305
7.4.2 Culture .................................................................................... 329
7.4.3 Professional development ........................................................... 347
7.5 Conclusion ..................................................................................... 360
Chapter Eight: Discussion ........................................................................ 362
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8.1 Introduction ................................................................................... 362
8.2 Discussion ..................................................................................... 362
8.2.1 Leadership practices .................................................................. 362
8.2.2 Culture .................................................................................... 376
8.2.3 Professional development ........................................................... 388
8.3 Conclusion ..................................................................................... 400
Chapter Nine: Conclusion ......................................................................... 403
9.1 Summary of the study ..................................................................... 403
9.2 Original contributions ...................................................................... 414
9.3 Limitations ..................................................................................... 418
9.4 Implications and recommendations ................................................... 419
9.4.1 The significance of the study ....................................................... 419
9.4.2 Implications for practice ............................................................. 420
9.4.3 Recommendations for future research .......................................... 423
9.5 Reflection ...................................................................................... 423
References ............................................................................................. 425
Appendices ............................................................................................. 449
Appendix 1: Ethical approval ................................................................. 449
Appendix 2: Risk assessment ................................................................. 450
Appendix 3: Principals information sheet ................................................. 451
Appendix 4: Principals consent form ....................................................... 454
Appendix 5: Deputies information sheet .................................................. 455
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