School leadership: Books for SBMs

School leadership: Books for SBMs

Being an SBM or a school leader can often be tricky. There are so many tasks to manage within the role as well as managing copious amounts of staff. This role can be tough and sometimes it can feel hard to lead a team of staff for the school to run effectively.

It is important for SBMs and school leaders to gather information to assist them in their role. To make this easier, we have sourced a list of school leadership books that are perfect for SBMs and school leaders. Covering a range of topics, these books aim to help with leading a school and managing mental health too. Delve into these books and try some out to motivate you and lift weight off your shoulders with new strategies in leading.

Dare to lead

Brene Brown shares lessons on vulnerability and empathy in leadership throughout this book. Dare to lead is a reminder to any leader that leadership isn’t about status or control, it is about seeing the potential in individuals and their ideas. This book lets leaders know that good leadership is about feelings such as empathy, connection and courage. Brown uses research, stories and examples to answer what makes a good leader. And how do you make braver, more daring leaders?

A manifesto for excellence in schools

Rob Carpenter firmly believes that the quality of teaching and leadership raises standards in schools today. In this book, Carpenter helps all teachers and leaders to transform learning journeys, both individually and collectively, so that your school is inclusive and supportive.

This book suggests new ways to help students succeed by balancing both practical advice and examples, resources and ideas for teachers and leaders to plan high-quality learning experiences. And if you want another book on how to help your teachers, check out our how to survive and succeed as a headteacher book. 

The wisdom of heads: short advice for school leader

Both knowledgeable and funny, this book is perfect for school leadership advice you won’t want to put down! This book isn’t a how to, but it is a how do. Denry Machin curated a collection of advice from a diverse of school leaders. It’s all in their words and through their stories you can learn how they approach leading a school and what they have learnt along the way. 

You’ll discover what resources you should buy to make your work life easier whilst suggesting what to avoid.

Supporting the emotional work of school leaders

This book for SBMs focuses on well-being. It deals with the emotional and moral dimensions of school leadership. Belinda Harris set outs the intra-personal and interpersonal attributes, attitudes and behaviours necessary to develop emotional and moral leadership. Harris aims to help you develop your own emotional resilience by giving some tools to become unstuck in stressful or emotional situations.

Supporting the emotional work of school leaders is available on Amazon and you can find the books above there too.

Riding the waves: finding joy and fulfilment in school leadership

James Hilton has created a positive and inspiring book about how primary and secondary school leaders can find fulfilment in their challenging roles. The goal of this book is to assist SBMs and school leaders in leading a school successfully and making the school itself succeed.

Being satisfied within your role is key to leading a happy and effective school. However, it can be hard to see the positive aspects within the role when you are working through difficult circumstances, under pressure with high demands. Hilton offers practical strategies, advice, reflective questions and activities to enable you to see these positives. This book also delves into how school leaders can enhance their mental health and wellbeing through a work-life balance.

Learn about how to assist your students with their mental health with this emotional wellbeing introduction book too.

Back on track: fewer things, greater depth

Released in 2020, Back on track is becoming an increasingly popular book amongst school leaders. Mary Myatt focuses on taking a hard look at redundant processes in schools and encourages you to consider if they are adding value to the purpose of your school. Throughout the book, Myatt explores focusing on the most important agenda item in schools today. This involves areas such as the development of an ambitious curriculum within every school.

How to build a healthy brain

If you need assistance with taking care and improving your mental health, then this book by Kimberley Wilson is a great place to start. It is a science-based guide to everything you need to know about brain health.

Containing plenty of practical and holistic advice on how to look after your mental health and looking after your brain health by making simple lifestyle choices. How to build a healthy brain covers a range of topics. These include the importance of sleep, understanding emotions, nutrition, and breathing techniques/meditation during stress and anxiety. 

Discover ways to access this book and how to buy it on Amazon. You can purchase all these books we have listed there too.

Use these books for SBMs to make your work life easier and delve into school leadership books to become a stronger, more resilient leader. Choose which books work best for you, depending on which areas you need guidance on. Look after yourself with mental health guides and relieve some stress of the job by learning different techniques, experiences and advice on leading a school to success. 

Let us know your favourite leadership books from this list or personal favourites on our Twitter. 

For further assistance and guidance with leadership, take a look at our ‘Top 10 leadership podcasts’ blog that you must listen to!