Vision and values in independent school leadership : a study of William Nicolle Oats

Theories on the phenomenon of leadership have accumulated in this decade: from them has emerged an appreciation of the significance which the vision and values of leaders has for their organisations. In this dissertation, consideration is given to relevant literature, but the central focus is a study of an individual school leader in the non-government system of education in Australia. The 'portrait' which is constructed of him is viewed in the light of findings on outstanding leadership in many fields. What this leader did, when and where he did it, and, particularly, why and how he may have performed in the way that he did, is appraised, in the manner of Lightfoot (1983). The performance is measured in relation to the philosophical orientations of Hodgkinson (1983). An assessment is made regarding the contribution to the achievement of excellent education which the personal vision and values of this one leader may have made during a long period of leadership.