Exploring Private School Principal’s Role in School Turnaround: Insights from a Qualitative Case Study in Karachi

Abstract

This qualitative case study explored the role of a private school’s principal leadership in the turn-around of a formerly underperforming school. The selected private school had exhibited a three-year trend of marked progress since leadership change. The purpose of the study was to identify and analyse the effectiveness of the strategies and decisions of the principal as the pedagogic leader to achieve institutional goals and student outcomes. The research utilized a qualitative exploratory research approach in an attempt to attain in-depth insights of the phenomenon. Semi-structured interviews were used as a tool to gather information from the principal and five teachers who had worked under both principals, the previous and the present. The interview findings were supported by classroom observations, general observations and document review revealing the effectiveness of leadership practices in school improvement. The research thus provides empirical support about the implications of the change of leadership at the selected private school.