Spiritual leadership in the education market place

This dissertation explores how spiritual leaders at all levels in Catholic schools, and of all faiths, could work together to maintain a distinctive Catholic spirituality, whilst still meeting the expectations of parents. The literature and research available in this area informed the issues to be investigated empirically, using a questionnaire survey within the context of a case study school. The research focussed on defining what is distinctive about Catholic spirituality and how staff of all faiths and none could form a community of spiritual leaders, promoting a distinctive spirituality whilst balancing conflicting priorities. Analysis of the data elicited from the questionnaires identified significant findings with implications for leadership in a Catholic school. These findings suggested (i) a divide between teaching and non-teaching staff as regards their involvement in promoting spirituality; (ii) that staff of other faiths felt inhibited from promoting a distinctive Catholic spirituality; (iii) reliance on senior management and the Religious Education department for leadership in the promotion of spirituality; and (iv) a lack of understanding of the distinctive nature of Catholic spirituality. The research informed recommendations for a staff formation programme, which acknowledges the contribution that the whole staff can make to the promotion of a distinctive spirituality that is integral to the academic programme of the school.