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Beyond the Boundaries of Leadership: Managerial Competences and Evaluation Challenges of School Leaders in the Eu-Oecd Context

Fernando Sarracino, Fabiola Palmiero, Giovanna Scala, Gianluca Gravino

Abstract

The introduction of the new evaluation system for school leaders in Italy (Ministerial Decree 15/2025) has brought organisational, managerial and leadership skills to the forefront of the educational debate. This qualitative study examines how these challenges are being addressed in key European Union and OECD countries, with the aim of outlining comparative models of school leadership, identifying best practices, and critically reflecting on the implications for Italy. The analysis is based on a systematic review of literature published between 2018 and 2024, as well as a thematic comparison of the regulatory frameworks, evaluation tools and professional development models for school leaders in the selected education systems (Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia).

Keywords

Educational leadership; Organisational competence; Comparative analysis;

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